Which factor dominates the industry evolution? A synergy analysis based on China's ICT industry

Abstract: Industry evolution caused by various reasons, among which technology progress driving industry development has been approved, but with the new trend of industry convergence, inter-industry convergence also plays an increasing important role. This paper plans to probe the industry synergetic evolution mechanism based on industry convergence and technology progress. Firstly, we use self-organization method and Haken Model to establish synergetic evolution equations, select technology progress and industry convergence as the key variables of industry evolution system; then use patent licensing data of china's listed ICT companies to measure industry convergence rate and apply DEA Malmquist index method to calculate technology progress level; furthermore apply simultaneous equation estimation method to investigate the synergetic industry evolution process. From 2002 to 2012, China's ICT industry develops rapidly; it has the most obvious convergence and powerful technology progress compared with other industries. We choose china's listed ICT industry to make empirical analysis. Our main findings are: a) technology progress is the order parameter which dominates industry system evolution. Moreover, industry convergence is the control parameter which is influenced by technology progress; b) Development of technology progress is the core factor for causing evolution of industry system, and industry convergence is the outcome of technology progress; c) Especially, it is important that the dominated role of technology progress will be sustained, even though in the environment of convergence, companies also need focus on self-innovation, rather than only adapt to the new industry evolution trend.