This paper examines the feasibility of fintech as a platform for sustainable economic growth and as a prompter of the fourth industrial revolution. To analyze the role of fintech in the national economy, we first broaden its definition and compare its economic performance using three methodologies—Demand-driven model, Supply-driven model and industry linkage effect in interindustry analysis. We find that the fintech industry has a stronger effect on production inducement. Regarding industry linkage effects, fintech ranked the top in all 31 industries for the forward linkage effect and 22 for the background linkage effect—much higher than the traditional financial industry. This implies that the fintech industry is effective as the intermediate good with national demand as well as the final good. Particularly, this industry plays the roles of intermediate and final goods across almost all industries. That is, fintech could better promote overall national economic performance as a platform industry. Because most businesses within the fintech industry depend on innovation through the integration of finance and information technology, we find that fintech can feasibly prompt the fourth industrial revolution. Nonetheless, this industry is characterized by excessive regulations in Korea, indicating the need for negative regulation for new, innovative businesses within the fintech industry that would critically emphasize innovativeness for inclusive, sustainable economic growth.

This study focused on smart farms in Korea to confirm that the fourth industrial revolution technology is a tool that can be used for sustainable economic development in agriculture. This study used the input–output table, which included the production-inducing effects of the demand inducement model, value-added inducing effects, supply shortage effects of the supply inducement model, and the interlinkage effect. These methods were used to compare the impact of smart farm machinery on agriculture and the impact of smart farms on the Korean economy compared to conventional agriculture, thereby confirming the extent of the effect of fourth industrial revolution technology on agriculture. This study was conducted to determine whether this agricultural sector could lead to sustainable economic development. The analysis revealed that the production-inducing effects of smart farms showed a greater ripple effect than those of the agricultural sector. However, both value-added inducing effects and supply shortage effects showed a larger ripple effect in the agricultural sector. Considering only the indirect effect, the smart farms were found to evenly affect secondary and tertiary industries. In the case of value-added inducing and supply shortage effects, agriculture was found to have a greater impact on the secondary industry, whereas smart agri-machines and farms had a greater impact on the tertiary industry. Moreover, according to the interlinkage effect, agriculture was classified as a raw industry with final demand, and smart farms as a manufacturing industry with intermediate demand. These results have several implications. For the fourth industrial revolution technology to lead sustainable economic growth in agriculture, continuous creation of new value by developing various types of business models linked to other industries in consideration of the industrial characteristics of smart farms and agri-machines is necessary. In addition, to fully demonstrate the economic effects of smart farms, continuous management and support are required so that smart technologies can be strategically utilized in the agricultural sector.

This study aimed to determine the role of KIBSs as a tool for sustainable innovation in a country’s economic system. Specifically, the degree and role of their impact on the Korean economy were analyzed and compared for the entire KIBS sector, T-KIBSs (a new technology-based professional service), P-KIBSs (a traditional professional service), and every subsector. For this purpose, the demand inducement model, supply inducement model, and interlinkage effects method were applied using the 2019 input–output table published in 2022. The analysis showed that the indirect production inducement effect of the entire KIBS industry on other industries was KRW 0.800, the indirect added value inducement effect was KRW 0.330, and the supply disruption effect was KRW 1.144. For T-KIBS, the indirect production inducement effect was KRW 0.687, the indirect added value inducement effect was KRW 0.272, and the supply disruption effect was KRW 0.730. For P-KIBSs, the indirect production inducement effect was KRW 1.472, the indirect added value inducement effect was KRW 0.646, and the supply disruption effect was KRW 2.657. Finally, regarding the economic ripple effect of the KIBS subsector, legal and management support services and advertisements corresponding to P-KIBSs showed higher figures than the T-KIBS subsectors in all sectors, including production inducement, the added value inducement effect, and the supply disruption effect. These results revealed that in the South Korean economic system, KIBSs contribute to production and value addition across all industrial sectors. It is apparent that the absence of supply significantly disrupts other industries. Furthermore, production inducement effects are evenly distributed among all the KIBS subsectors in the secondary and tertiary sectors, while the value-added effects have a greater impact on the tertiary sector. In terms of the supply shortage effects, the secondary sector experiences a more significant impact. This underscores the crucial role of KIBSs in sustaining and enhancing overall economic activity in South Korea.

This study proposes a functional framework to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of e-learning content creation by systematically integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. While previous research on e-learning has primarily focused on systems and infrastructure, little attention has been given to content creation. To address this gap, we present a five-step methodology: (1) conducting a systematic literature review of existing e-learning development frameworks; (2) proposing a content-specific framework centered on instructors and technical support roles; (3) outlining a detailed task-based content creation process; (4) identifying and classifying commercial AI tools applicable to each functional unit; and (5) comparing the tools based on their strengths, limitations, and suitability. The proposed framework includes eight key functional stages, ranging from lesson planning to editing, automation, and final review. For each stage, AI tools such as ChatGPT, Synthesia, MidJourney, and Grammarly are evaluated and mapped to the corresponding workflow phase. The findings suggest that integrating AI tools into content creation can significantly reduce production time and cost, improve instructional quality, and lower e-learning sector entry barriers. This study contributes a conceptual model and practical strategies for leveraging AI in scalable, high-quality digital education environments.

This study investigates the economic role and spillover effects of Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (KIBS), one of the key instruments for sustainable economic growth, in South Korea and the United States from 2010 to 2020. KIBS, comprising Technology-Intensive KIBS (T-KIBS) and Professional KIBS (P-KIBS), serve as critical drivers of innovation within organizations and economic systems, fostering long-term economic sustainability. To rigorously assess the economic spillover effects of KIBS in promoting sustainable economic growth, this study examines how its impact varies based on industrial structure, economic scale, and firms’ capacity to leverage KIBS effectively, while also identifying key structural differences across national contexts. The findings reveal that both countries exhibit a similar economic function for KIBS, with T-KIBS categorized as a “primitive final demand type” and P-KIBS as a “primitive intermediate demand type”. However, the economic spillover effects of KIBS were more stable in the U.S., whereas South Korea experienced greater fluctuations. In particular, South Korea’s P-KIBS had a more pronounced impact on the secondary sector, particularly manufacturing. As of 2020, the production-inducing effect of South Korea’s P-KIBS on the manufacturing sector was 39.1%, while its value-added-inducing effect stood at 27.0%, and its supply-shortage effect reached 50.9%. These values exceeded those of P-KIBS in the United States and generally surpassed the economic spillover effects observed for South Korea’s T-KIBS. Furthermore, the inter-industry linkage analysis suggests that KIBS plays a more significant role as a raw material input within the U.S. economic system. In 2020, the forward linkage effect of U.S. T-KIBS was 0.853, while that of U.S. P-KIBS stood at 2.116. These figures were higher than the forward linkage effects recorded for South Korea’s T-KIBS (0.635) and P-KIBS (1.590), underscoring the stronger integration of KIBS into the U.S. industrial structure. Additionally, the supply-shortage effects were more significant than other economic spillover effects in both countries, underscoring KIBS’ critical function as a key production input. These findings underscore the necessity of differentiated policies for fostering and supplying KIBS based on each country’s industrial structure and economic characteristics. Given its pivotal role in economic growth, this study emphasizes the need for a stable supply of KIBS to ensure continued productivity and value creation. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the necessity of fostering innovation within the T-KIBS sector, particularly in research and development, to enhance its contribution to financial and organizational innovation. By developing strategic policies tailored to national economic conditions, countries can maximize the economic benefits Cof KIBS and strengthen their long-term economic sustainability.

Knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) are professional services that create new added value by creating, accumulating, and disseminating new knowledge. When it comes to conducting business involving new technology, KIBS play the roles of innovator, user, and producer of new technology that has led to technological innovation. This study aimed to determine the role of KIBS as a tool for innovation in a country’s economic system. Specifically, the degree and role of their impact on the Korean economy were analyzed and compared for the entire KIBS sector, T-KIBS (a new technology-based professional service), P-KIBS (a traditional professional service), and every subsector. For this purpose, the demand-inducement model, supply inducement model, and interlinkage effects method were applied using the 2019 input-output table published in 2022. The analysis showed that the indirect production inducement effect of the entire KIBS industry on other industries was 0.800 KRW, the indirect added value inducement effect was 0.330 KRW, and the supply disruption effect was 1.144 KRW. For T-KIBS, the indirect production inducement effect was 0.687 KRW, the indirect added value inducement effect was 0.272 KRW, and the supply disruption effect was 0.730 KRW. For P-KIBS, the indirect production inducement effect was 1.472 KRW, the indirect added value inducement effect was 0.646 KRW, and the supply disruption effect was 2.657 KRW. Finally, regarding the economic ripple effect of the KIBS subsector, legal and management support services and advertisements corresponding to P-KIBS showed higher figures than the T-KIBS subsectors in all sectors, including production inducement, the added value inducement effect, and the supply disruption effect. These results revealed that in the South Korean economic system, KIBS contribute to production and value addition across all industrial sectors. It is apparent that the absence of supply significantly disrupts other industries. Furthermore, production inducement effects are evenly distributed among all the KIBS subsectors in the secondary and tertiary sectors, while the value-added effects have a greater impact on the tertiary sector. In terms of the supply shortage effects, the secondary sector experiences a more significant impact. This underscores the crucial role of KIBS in sustaining and enhancing overall economic activity in South Korea. This study is significant in that it not only investigated KIBS as an industry group using the advantages provided by industry linkage analysis but also examined and compared detailed subsectors, thereby elaborately evaluating the influence relationship between KIBS and other industries. Therefore, the results presented in this study are expected to be useful for fostering the KIBS industrial sector and establishing economic innovation policies using KIBS.