INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 06,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 822
GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE INDEX AS AN INDICATOR OF COUNTRY
DEVELOPMENT
Khasankhonova Nodira Isametdinovna,
Tashkent Financial Institute, PhD, Acting Associate Professor, Department of Economics
Email:
Abstract:
This article describes the Global Knowledge Index as an indicator of country
development. The article considers such issues as the importance of the index, its sub-indices.
The world indicators (advanced, average and weak indicator) for 2022 are analyzed. A
conclusion is made for 10 advanced countries
.
Keywords:
knowledge economy, knowledge index, knowledge economy index, innovation,
ICT, knowledge capital, pre-university education, technical and vocational education, R&D,
favorable environment sub-index in the country, economy sub-index
Introduction
One of the main consequences of economic globalization is increased competition
between countries and companies. This leads to lower prices for goods and services, improved
quality of products and services, and the development of new technologies and innovations. In
addition, economic globalization promotes the dissemination of knowledge and experience
between countries, which helps them develop and improve their economic performance.
Global indices are tools that are used to measure and compare the level of economic,
social and environmental development of different countries. They help assess how successfully
a country is coping with modern challenges such as climate change, poverty, inequality and
others.
There are many global indices, each of which measures a certain aspect of a country's
development. For example, the Human Development Index (HDI) measures the standard of
living, health and education of the country's population. The Environmental Performance Index
(EPI) evaluates a country's efforts to protect the environment and combat climate change. The
Social Progress Index (SPI) takes into account factors such as equality, freedom and security.
Global indices can be useful for analyzing the development of countries, comparing their
achievements and identifying problems that need to be solved. They can also serve as a guide
for politicians and experts in developing development strategies and making decisions in the
field of economics, social policy and environmental protection.
Literature Review
It should be noted that indices are assessed by various organizations and experts in the
field of economics, finance, statistics and other areas. For example, development indices can be
assessed by local authorities, realtor associations and other organizations that are engaged in
statistical assessment. Stock market indices can also be assessed by various analytical
companies and financial institutions, such as investment banks, brokerage firms, etc.
There are analyses of the knowledge index by L.G. Baratkova, A.V. Chugunov, who
consider the knowledge economy index within the knowledge economy index. Thus, L.G.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 06,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 823
Baratkova says that the Knowledge Economy Index, unlike the Knowledge Index, does not
assess the country's potential, but rather the extent to which the environment in a particular
country contributes to the effective use of knowledge in economic development [1]. For this
purpose, in addition to the three above-mentioned groups of factors, a fourth category is added
– economic incentives and institutional regime [2]. The same opinions can be seen in the article
on monitoring innovation security based on the knowledge economy index by V.A. Gorin and
E.S. Zemskova. They write that the World Bank calculates the Knowledge Economy Index
(KEI) and the Knowledge Index (KI). The former includes an index of the economy and
institutional regime, an education index, an innovation index, and an information and
communication technology index [3]. The knowledge index differs from the knowledge
economy index by the absence of an index of the economy and institutional regime. The latter
are determined on the basis of data on the presence of economic barriers, the quality of
governance, and the state of the legal sphere. The education index includes the average number
of years of schooling, the coverage of the population with secondary education, and the
coverage of the population with higher education. The innovation index is calculated on the
basis of data on royalty income, the number of scientific and technical articles, and the number
of patents issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office. However, today, due to internal and
external factors, the World Bank does not calculate the knowledge economy index, but
calculates the knowledge index. This is also due to the fact that in practice there is no clear
model that could explain the cause-and-effect relationships between science, technology, the
economy, and society. If earlier the knowledge index included sub-index of education, sub-
index of innovation and sub-index of ICT, now it is much more difficult to calculate.
Therefore, we made the goal to consider the calculation of the knowledge index, make a
comparative analysis with the world indicator and give a conclusion.
Research Methodology
The methodology of this article uses the methods of generalization, grouping,
comparative analysis, theoretical interpretation. In addition, the scientific basis of the article is
international standards for assessing the knowledge index, information from studies of the
United Nations, including UNDP or UN member states, or the Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum Knowledge Foundation.
Analysis and results
In the contemporary world, where information and innovation have become central to
sustainable growth, the Global Knowledge Index (GKI) has emerged as a vital metric for
assessing the knowledge capabilities of nations. Developed by the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge
Foundation, the GKI provides a comprehensive, multidimensional tool to evaluate how
countries perform in creating, acquiring, and disseminating knowledge. It serves not only as a
benchmark for national progress but also as a policy instrument guiding countries toward
informed development strategies.
Understanding the Global Knowledge Index
The Global Knowledge Index is structured around seven key sub-indices:
Pre-University Education
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
Higher Education
Research, Development, and Innovation
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
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ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 06,2025
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page 824
Economy
General Enabling Environment
Each sub-index consists of a variety of quantitative indicators sourced from international
organizations such as UNESCO, World Bank, ILO, and ITU. These indicators cover variables
including education enrollment rates, R&D spending, digital infrastructure, labor productivity,
and institutional quality.
By aggregating this information, the GKI offers a composite score ranging from 0 to 100,
where higher scores reflect a more knowledge-based, innovation-driven, and future-ready
economy.
The relationship between the Global Knowledge Index and national development is both
correlative and causative. Nations that score higher on the GKI tend to have stronger economic
performance, greater innovation outputs, and higher levels of human development. This is
largely due to the GKI's focus on core pillars of sustainable development: quality education,
technological readiness, institutional efficiency, and economic productivity [4].
Key Contributions of the GKI to Development Analysis:
Policy Guidance: Countries can identify specific weaknesses in their knowledge systems,
such as low R&D investment or underperforming higher education sectors.
Benchmarking and Comparison: Nations can compare their performance with peers and
leading knowledge economies, thereby facilitating targeted reforms.
Tracking Progress Over Time: The GKI enables policymakers and researchers to assess
improvements or regressions in knowledge-based development annually.
Cross-sectoral Impact Measurement: The index captures how education, ICT, and
innovation interact to shape broader developmental outcomes.
Historically, countries such as Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, and Finland
consistently rank at the top of the Global Knowledge Index. These nations exhibit a strong
commitment to R&D, inclusive and adaptive education systems, and a culture that promotes
innovation and knowledge exchange [5].
In contrast, developing countries often face systemic barriers including limited funding
for education and research, digital divides, weak institutions, and misalignment between labor
market needs and educational outcomes. However, several emerging economies—such as the
United Arab Emirates, China, and Malaysia—have made significant strides by integrating GKI-
based diagnostics into their national planning.
Global Top 5 Countries by GKI 2024 [4]
Rank
Country
GKI Score
1
Sweden
68.3
2
Finland
68.2
3
Switzerland
67.9
4
Denmark
66.8
5
Netherlands
66.8
These European nations maintain strong knowledge ecosystems—especially in education,
innovation, and ICT.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 06,2025
Journal:
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Uzbekistan's performance in the GKI has been improving in recent years as part of its
broader modernization agenda. Key reforms in digital transformation, university autonomy,
TVET system restructuring, and innovation ecosystem support have contributed to gradual
progress. However, challenges remain, particularly in aligning education outputs with labor
market needs and improving research commercialization.
Year- over- Year Trend for Uzbekistan [4]
Year
Rank out of Countries
GKI Score
World Avg
2023
78 / 133
44.8
47.5
2024
78 / 141
45.9
47.8
Using the GKI framework, Uzbekistan can prioritize:
Increasing expenditure on R&D as a percentage of GDP
Enhancing teacher training and curriculum reform
Strengthening university-industry collaboration
Investing in ICT infrastructure and e-governance tools
Conclusion
The Global Knowledge Index is more than a ranking—it is a strategic development tool.
By highlighting the structural components of a knowledge economy, it empowers countries to
build human capital, foster innovation, and ensure resilient economic growth. As the global
economy increasingly relies on ideas, data, and skilled labor, the GKI will continue to serve as
a critical indicator for forward-looking development.
We examined the global knowledge index in terms of its impact on country development.
The global knowledge index showed that innovation institutions are a key element in economic
development. The information obtained through the knowledge index confirms our view that a
one-size-fits-all approach to economic development policies cannot be the same in all countries,
and that improvement measures should be prioritized depending on specific problems in the
economy. In developing countries, the global knowledge index is low, so the focus should be on
building the core sub-indices, in particular, building better institutions for innovation
(improving economic openness, governance, and the business environment), general skills for
innovation, and ICT infrastructure. At the intermediate stage of the index, countries’ economies
should make efforts to catch up with those countries that are on the technological frontier. This
includes improving innovation-related factors, such as intellectual property rights protection.
Finally, countries in the advanced KE group should focus on building the capacity for cutting-
edge innovation on a global scale. This includes improving the ability of firms to
commercialize new products (e.g. through accelerators), more efficient channeling of funds to
innovative firms (e.g. through venture capital programs), and closer business ties with academia
(e.g. innovation vouchers). In general, developed KE economies have the capacity to implement
more sophisticated innovation policy instruments, such as incentives for private sector R&D
and personnel specialization.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 06,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 826
References:
1. Baratkova L.G. Indicators of knowledge economy development. // Yaroslavl pedagogical
bulletin. 2012. No. 2. Vol. 1. P. -107-111.;
2. Chugunov A.V. Systems of indicators and monitoring of information society and
knowledge economy development. // Material published in the journal "Bulletin of
international organizations: education, science, new economy", No. 7, 2006. P. 1-23.;
3. Gorin V.A., Zemskova E.S. Monitoring innovation security based on the knowledge
economy index. // Internet journal "NAUKOVEDENIE" http://naukovedenie.ru Vol. 7, No.
5 (September - October 2015). P.-4.;
4. https://www.knowledge4all.com/dashboard;
5. Introducing the EBRD Knowledge economy index. March 2019. P.17.
