Analysis of technological learning for the Thai manufacturing industry

Abstract Learning mechanisms for enterprises adjusting to the new era of information technology are needed as they constitute the dynamic element of technological capabilities. Thai manufacturing industries are being used to demonstrate an analysis of technological learning by learning curve estimation. This paper presents clusters of industries based on the ISIC classification with good learning potential and learning effect that implies the marginal return to resources allocated for productivity improvement via learning which varies across industries. It is found that learning curves of Thai industry have a medium learning elasticity with average learning potentials. Heavy manufacturing industries are found to have higher learning potentials or steeper learning curves than the light manufacturing industries. The study is aimed at gaining an insight into the industrialized efforts of industries towards developing appropriate learning mechanisms.