Higher Education Input, Technological Innovation, and Economic Growth in China

Abstract

Based on the theoretical analysis of the relationship between China’s higher education input, technological innovation, and economic growth, this paper chooses the 1997–2015 sample data of China, and uses a vector auto regression (VAR) model to test the relationship between the three. The results show that educational input, technological innovation, and economic growth form an interaction mechanism featuring dynamic circulation. Higher education input and technological innovation are two important factors influencing economic growth. In the meantime, higher education input is an important source and driving force of technological innovation, and technological innovation will further promote economic growth. However, technological innovation has a delayed positive effect on economic growth, so higher education input demands a long-term view and thinking for quick success, and instant benefits should be avoided.