How to be smarter John Howkins, author of The Creative Economy and a leading commentator on the global culture of innovation, tells Julian Cribb how societies can tap into their creative genius.
D uring the 1970s, economist John Rohmer put forward the then-controversial view that it wasn’t so much capital that built economies but human capital. He was refer- ring to knowledge, skills, education, motivation, imagination, innovation and other factors that are not readily captured by economic formulae. Since then the knowledge society, ideas econ- omy, clever country, innovation nation and other buzz phrases have been used in efforts to encap- sulate what gives smart societies their economic and social edge over others. British author and media guru, John Howkins, prefers the term “the creative economy” and thinks smart societies have a greater ability to tap into their creative genius and knowledge banks. Julian Cribb: What is the creative economy? John Howkins: The creative economy is the busi- ness of ideas and is today’s dominant economic model. It is the most effective means of chang- ing organisations, introducing new products, generating wealth and determining competi- tive advantage. Creativity is the ability to generate something new. It could be the production of one or more
people of ideas and inventions that are original and meaningful. It is a talent and it flourishes in the arts, the sciences, in levels of business where novelty and invention are possible. The defining asset of the creative economy is intellectual property because, on its own, crea- tivity has no value. It needs to take shape and be embodied in a tradeable product. It also needs a marketplace with active buyers and sellers and some rules. “There are two choices – we either live off our own ideas or we live off other people’s ideas.” The creative economy is worth A$5 trillion worldwide and companies are advertising urgently for people who can do things differ- ently. Having ideas and putting them to work is vital in business – for quality of life and for bringing much-needed new approaches to social problems from local communities to national organisations.
INNOVATIA
406
INNOVATIA
| Education
407
Powered by FlippingBook