Table 4.

The framework of the knowledge economy and the statistical assessment methodology proxied by the four proxies

Proxies (indicators)	Knowledge economy criteria
Social progress   The Index measures social progress using 53 indicators across areas including personal safety, environmental quality, personal freedom and choice, nutrition and basic medical care	Social economy
IT usage   Based on communications and connections (esp. the Internet), IT usage, facilities, usage of computers/IT tools from the government needed to promote good lifestyle and requirements of society to enjoy their life. The ranking is based on individual usage, business usage & government usage	Technology (ICT)
Innovation   Based on investments in R&D and innovation, innovation quality, output and efficiency. All these are central to economic growth; helping developed countries reinvent themselves in times of economic decline and emerging countries answer their societies’ growing needs	Knowledge and innovation
IP grant and trademark application   Rankings are based on the total numbers of applications of patents, trademarks and designs filed by origin, and three rankings will be used in respective order	Knowledge products