The EU’s 'Lisbon Strategy' One Decade On: Where is Portugal on the Way to a Knowledge Society?

Abstract

This article analyses the current socio-economic situation in Portugal from the perspective of the transition to a knowledge-based society postulated by the European Union’s Lisbon Strategy. It provides a critical examination of the latest trends in the Portuguese economy, taking account of the twofold impact of EU financial assistance and discussing the extent to which the contemporary Portuguese economy may be characterised as knowledge-based. The article further turns to assessing present levels of human capital in the country. The challenge of enhancing human capital is studied within a broader scope of the production and spread of knowledge. Several kinds of institutions and their present performance are analysed to this end, including schools, higher education establishments, private sector enterprises and frameworks for importing human capital from abroad. In conclusion, the complex nexus of knowledge and development is addressed in terms of its general relationship with human capital and the economy, as well as providing some directions for further research that could contribute towards clarifying this linkage.