Memo #125
By Ken Coates – kennethcoates [at] gmail.com
Over the last quarter century, East Asia has played a dominant role in the digital economy. Taiwan, China, Korea, and Japan host many leading digital manufacturing firms. They exert enormous control over everything from video game consoles and cell phones to netbook computers and digital automotive control systems. As the digital economy grew in size and importance, so has East Asia’s presence in the digital space.
The second part of the digital economy, digital content and services, has attracted less attention, but has emerged as a formidable economic and social force. Korea dominates the world of multi-player online gaming. Japan’s video game capabilities are well known. In Taiwan, there is steady growth of Chinese-language content and services. The development of an integrated East Asian digital marketplace is of growing importance, in large part because it is unfolding with minimal reference to North America and Europe.
Part 1 – Digital manufacturing and digital content in East Asia (2:17 min)
Part 2 – East Asia as a region for digital content (2:35 min)
Part 3 – Digital content as an economic sector (2:51 min)
Part 4 – Digital manufacturing vs. digital content (2:29 min)
About the Interviewee:
Ken Coates – Professor of History and Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Waterloo.
Related Memos:
- Our other memos on East Asia.