Charlie Karlsson – författare

The Oxford Handbook of Spatial Diversity and Business Economics provides academics, researchers, and advanced students in various disciplines - such as business, economics, and geography - with an overview of the role of diversity in modern advanced economies. For a long time, research from different areas has suggested that diversity is a critical factor in creativity, knowledge generation, innovation, and entrepreneurship at the level of organizations, cities, regions, and whole countries. The chapters in this handbook deal with some of these issues in different ways and add to the existing knowledge on the role of diversity for various economic phenomena. The 16 chapters are organized into the following sections: 1) Diversity and place development: theory and policy development, 2) Workforce and labour market diversity, 3) Diversity and entrepreneurship, and 4) Regional diversity, innovation, and productivity. Furthermore, the introductory chapter of the book provides an overview of some of the main arguments on diversity in theoretical as well as empirical literature that puts the chapter contributions in context.

This volume provides an understanding of firms' R&D and innovation strategies and their economy-wide consequences. It is based on the premise that differences in firm-level returns, as well as economy-wide outcomes, may be linked to the heterogeneous ways in which firms organize and undertake R&D and innovation activities. It emphasizes innovation strategies of innovating firms, and reflects that innovation efforts do not represent a uniform type of expenditure. Organized into three parts the volume moves from the micro to the macro-level. This structure highlights the notion that R&D and innovation and growth are two interdependent perspectives. The first of these is micro-oriented and focuses on innovation processes of firms, where R&D activities and other innovation efforts give rise to consequences such as a strengthening of resource bases, growth of sales and employment, patents, new products, increasing productivity and profits, and improved chances of survival. The second perspective comprises economy-wide effects in the form of overall technological change, growth in total factor productivity, and structural change processes, where certain sectors may benefit from new inputs from other sectors while others experience declining markets and reduced output.The book brings together contributions and perspectives from both economics and business scholars, and will appeal to academics, researchers, and students interested in R&D and innovation strategies, international business, business strategy, and the economics of technological change.

The phenomenon of entrepreneurship has attracted researchers from a variety of disciplines and a diverse number of analytical approaches. Currently, there is a considerable amount of confusion and a variety of conflicting theories which are being used interchangeably and ambiguously. In this important new book, the authors argue that there are analytically distinct forms of entrepreneurship, each of them having an individual logic of their own. They highlight the role of individual economic agents with endowments of new knowledge or new combinations of old knowledge as entrepreneurs, and thus identify them as dynamic factors in the knowledge economy.Overall, this book not only provides a contemporary overview of current research in the field, but also summarizes the policy conclusions that can be drawn from current research.

In recent years, policy makers have given much credence to the role of entrepreneurship in the transformation of regions. As a result, a new set of policy responses have emerged that focus on the support of new venture creation, small business growth and idea generation and commercialization. While there is a wealth of research about entrepreneurship in general, less attention has been given to the development of new tools and programs in support of entrepreneurial activities, and to the ways in which the emergence, the character and the types of entrepreneurship policies might differ between countries. In particular, the transatlantic perspective is of special interest because of the pioneering role of the United States in this area, and also due to the European Union's focus on economic competitiveness.The contributions included in this book explore the emergence of entrepreneurship policies from a transatlantic comparative perspective and address different aspects of entrepreneurship policies including local entrepreneurship policies and the relationship between knowledge-based industries and entrepreneurship policies.

In the last four decades the developed economies have developed into veritable knowledge economies at the same time as more and more economies have entered the road to economic development. Typical for the developments during this time has been substantially increased investments in research and development (R&D) to generate new knowledge and new technologies and increased investments in diffusing existing knowledge by means of education and thereby raising the volume of human capital. However, many member states and regions within the EU are struggling with their economic development. This book explores the uneven patterns of development within the EU, discusses the relative effect of investments on innovation and productivity growth and looks at the mechanisms involved in economic development and policy.

The phenomenon of entrepreneurship has attracted researchers from a variety of disciplines and a diverse number of analytical approaches. Currently, there is a considerable amount of confusion and a variety of conflicting theories which are being used interchangeably and ambiguously. In this important new book, the authors argue that there are analytically distinct forms of entrepreneurship, each of them having an individual logic of their own. They highlight the role of individual economic agents with endowments of new knowledge or new combinations of old knowledge as entrepreneurs, and thus identify them as dynamic factors in the knowledge economy.Overall, this book not only provides a contemporary overview of current research in the field, but also summarizes the policy conclusions that can be drawn from current research.

This book was originally published in 1999. At this time, the US economy had recently restructured itself, moving away from an industrial economy towards one based on information, while the European Union and Japan were left to worry about rising government deficits, inflexible businesses, persistent unemployment, and workers inadequately trained for the information age. Why did the US economy move beyond its chief competitors? This collection suggests that at least some of the answers to the pattern of divergent development can be found in the role of the entrepreneur. By examining the process that entrepreneurs play in the economy, the essays in this volume make a fundamental contribution to our understanding of the macroeconomy. Each chapter clarifies the role of entrepreneur in economic theory, the function of small and medium-size enterprises that they found and build and the impact of the innovations introduced on employment, productivity, and economic growth.

This book was originally published in 1999. At this time, the US economy had recently restructured itself, moving away from an industrial economy towards one based on information, while the European Union and Japan were left to worry about rising government deficits, inflexible businesses, persistent unemployment, and workers inadequately trained for the information age. Why did the US economy move beyond its chief competitors? This collection suggests that at least some of the answers to the pattern of divergent development can be found in the role of the entrepreneur. By examining the process that entrepreneurs play in the economy, the essays in this volume make a fundamental contribution to our understanding of the macroeconomy. Each chapter clarifies the role of entrepreneur in economic theory, the function of small and medium-size enterprises that they found and build and the impact of the innovations introduced on employment, productivity, and economic growth.

This Handbook provides an overview and assessment of the state-of-the-art research methods, approaches and applications central to economic geography.Understanding spatial economic outcomes and the forces and mechanisms that influence the geography of economic growth is of utmost importance and demands substantial theoretical and empirical research in economic geography, spatial economics and regional science. Such research is critically dependent upon good and reliable empirical data, and it is here that this Handbook contributes, providing a broad overview of up-to-date research methods and approaches. The chapters are written by distinguished researchers from a variety of scholarly traditions and with a background in different academic disciplines including economics, economic human and cultural geography, and economic history.Researchers and academics in economics and economic geography will find this a fundamental reference point and will benefit from the comprehensive assessment of research methods and approaches in the field. Practitioners and policy-makers will also find the practical applications to be of utmost value.Contributors: M. Andersson, G. Arbia, B. Asheim, R. Basile, M. Birkin, R. Boschma, S. Brakman, J. Bröcker, L. Broersma, H-H. Chang, G. Clarke, M. Clarke, L. Coenen, J. Corcoran, S. Dall'erba, G. Espa, A.M. Esteves, A. Faggian, M.M. Fischer, K. Frenken, M. Fritsch, D. Giuliani, K.E. Haynes, G.J.D. Hewings, M. Horváth, G. Ivanova, N. Kapitsinis, C. Karlsson, H. Khawaldah, M. Kilkenny, J. Klaesson, S. Koster, J.P. Larsson, J. Lesage, Y. Li, I. Llamosas-Rosas, P.A. Longley, T. Mitze, J. Moodysson, I. Noback, T. Norman, J. Oosterhaven, J. Parajuli, M. Partridge, D. Psaltopoulos, M. Schramm, D. Skuras, A. Stephan, P. Thulin, S. Usai, J. van Dijk, C. van Marrewijk, F. van Oort, F. Vanclay, A. Varga, H. Westlund

This impressive new volume uniquely focuses on the phenomenon of media clusters and is designed to inform policy makers, scholars, and media practitioners about the underlying challenges of media firm agglomerations, their potential, and their effects. Including an array of distinguished contributors, this book explores the rationale and purpose of media clusters, how they compare to clusters in other industries, and the significant differences in characteristics, development processes and drivers among various media clusters worldwide. It incorporates perspectives from economic geography and economics, public development and industrial policy, organizational studies, entrepreneurship, as well as cultural and media studies, to provide a comprehensive view that provides critical insight into these clusters. Contributors include: L. Achtenhagen, L. Barkho, T. Barnes, H. Bathelt, N. Coe, G. Cook, C. Davis, H. Dugmore, S. Eriksson, B. Goldsmith, E. Hitters, J. Johns, C. Karlsson, J. Mavhungu, T. O Regan, R.G. Picard, A.C. Pratt, S. Ward

In the last four decades the developed economies have developed into veritable knowledge economies at the same time as more and more economies have entered the road to economic development. Typical for the developments during this time has been substantially increased investments in research and development (R&D) to generate new knowledge and new technologies and increased investments in diffusing existing knowledge by means of education and thereby raising the volume of human capital. However, many member states and regions within the EU are struggling with their economic development. This book explores the uneven patterns of development within the EU, discusses the relative effect of investments on innovation and productivity growth and looks at the mechanisms involved in economic development and policy.

In recent years, policy makers have given much credence to the role of entrepreneurship in the transformation of regions. As a result, a new set of policy responses have emerged that focus on the support of new venture creation, small business growth and idea generation and commercialization. While there is a wealth of research about entrepreneurship in general, less attention has been given to the development of new tools and programs in support of entrepreneurial activities, and to the ways in which the emergence, the character and the types of entrepreneurship policies might differ between countries. In particular, the transatlantic perspective is of special interest because of the pioneering role of the United States in this area, and also due to the European Union's focus on economic competitiveness.The contributions included in this book explore the emergence of entrepreneurship policies from a transatlantic comparative perspective and address different aspects of entrepreneurship policies including local entrepreneurship policies and the relationship between knowledge-based industries and entrepreneurship policies.

This book highlights the role of entrepreneurship, social capital and governance for regional economic development. In recent decades, many researchers have claimed that entrepreneurship is the most critical factor in sustaining regional economic growth. However, most entrepreneurship research is undertaken without considering the fundamental importance of the regional context. Other research has emphasized the role of social capital but there are substantial problems in empirically relating measures of social capital to regional economic development.The expert contributors to this work highlight the role of governance in regional growth, an area that has so far been relatively under-researched, underpinning their findings with new theoretical and empirical evidence. They conclude that the relationship between entrepreneurship, social capital and governance in factors affecting regional economic development are complex and interdependent, and that to influence these factors and the relationship between them, policymakers must have a long-term perspective and be both patient and persistent in their efforts.This enlightening book will be of great interest to academics, students and researchers across a range of fields including regional science, regional economics, economic geography, regional planning, public policy, entrepreneurship, political science and economic sociology. Policymakers involved in regional policymaking from national down to regional and local levels will also find the book to be an illuminating read.Contributors include: T. Arvemo, P. Assmo, I. Bernhard, N. Carbonara, M. Cesário, G.A.S. Cook, J.L. Crespo-Espert, L.P. Dana, M.T. de Noronha, S. Doh, A. Garcia-Tabuenca, U. Gråsjö, K.E. Haynes, D.G. Ierapetirits, C. Karlsson, D. Lagos, H. Lawton Smith, M. Morehart, K. Nyström, F.- Pablo-Marti, H. Qian, J.Å. Riseth, S. Romeo, P. Stenberg, S.C. Turner, H. Westlund, E. Wihlborg, E.J. Zolnik

We have, in recent decades, been able to witness a veritable revolution in the world economy, known as 'globalization'. Generally, the term is connected to the rapid increase of the free movement of goods, capital, people, ideas, information and knowledge around the globe. This book contributes to the meso- and micro-economic literature on innovation and entrepreneurship in the global economy.Extending our understanding of the many different ways that innovation and entrepreneurship contribute to economic development and growth in a globalized economy, the expert contributors highlight that the current wave of globalization has been a period of exceptional entrepreneurship both among large multinational firms and among independent entrepreneurs. They demonstrate that location matters for creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, and clarify that public policy in a globalized economy must stress knowledge and ideas as the source of competitiveness and economic growth.Both graduates and post graduates, along with university researchers, will find this book to be useful in their studies, particularly those with an interest in innovation and entrepreneurship research, regional economics, economic geography and international economics.Contributors: M.J.Abellán Madrid, J. Abrahamsson, M. Andersson, S. Anokhin, R. Antonietti, D.B. Audretsch, M. Belitski, H. Boter, A. Broström, M.R. Ferrante, A. García-Tabuenca, N.M.George, U. Gråsjö, K.E. Haynes, V. Jienwatcharamongkhol, C. Karlsson, B. Kianian, T.C. Larsson, R. Leoncini, C.Y. Liu, M. McKelvey, G. Painter, J. Parajuli, V. Parida, C. Suárez Gálvez, M.G.A. Svensson, S. Tavassoli, V. Vanyushyn, Q. Wang, K.I. Westeren, J. Wincent, S. Wixe

This Handbook provides an overview and assessment of the state-of-the-art research methods, approaches and applications central to economic geography.Understanding spatial economic outcomes and the forces and mechanisms that influence the geography of economic growth is of utmost importance and demands substantial theoretical and empirical research in economic geography, spatial economics and regional science. Such research is critically dependent upon good and reliable empirical data, and it is here that this Handbook contributes, providing a broad overview of up-to-date research methods and approaches. The chapters are written by distinguished researchers from a variety of scholarly traditions and with a background in different academic disciplines including economics, economic human and cultural geography, and economic history.Researchers and academics in economics and economic geography will find this a fundamental reference point and will benefit from the comprehensive assessment of research methods and approaches in the field. Practitioners and policy-makers will also find the practical applications to be of utmost value.Contributors: M. Andersson, G. Arbia, B. Asheim, R. Basile, M. Birkin, R. Boschma, S. Brakman, J. Bröcker, L. Broersma, H-H. Chang, G. Clarke, M. Clarke, L. Coenen, J. Corcoran, S. Dall'erba, G. Espa, A.M. Esteves, A. Faggian, M.M. Fischer, K. Frenken, M. Fritsch, D. Giuliani, K.E. Haynes, G.J.D. Hewings, M. Horváth, G. Ivanova, N. Kapitsinis, C. Karlsson, H. Khawaldah, M. Kilkenny, J. Klaesson, S. Koster, J.P. Larsson, J. Lesage, Y. Li, I. Llamosas-Rosas, P.A. Longley, T. Mitze, J. Moodysson, I. Noback, T. Norman, J. Oosterhaven, J. Parajuli, M. Partridge, D. Psaltopoulos, M. Schramm, D. Skuras, A. Stephan, P. Thulin, S. Usai, J. van Dijk, C. van Marrewijk, F. van Oort, F. Vanclay, A. Varga, H. Westlund

Today we can observe an increasing spatial divide as some large urban regions and many more medium-sized and small regions face growing problems such as decreasing labour demand, increasing unemployment and an ageing population. In view of these trends, this book offers a better understanding of the general characteristics and specific drivers of the geographies of growth. It shows how these may vary in different spatial contexts, how hurdles and barriers to growth in different types of regions can be dealt with, how and to what extent resources in different areas can develop, and how the potential of these resources to stimulate growth can be realized.This book presents a collection of chapters, divided into four main perspectives, that together deal with these issues. The expert contributions provide numerous different perspectives on a new regional divide as well as exploring the inter-regional accessibility to human capital and its affects on productivity on both sides of the border. The book also investigates the speed of convergence and the fact that, when incorporating structural change, it is often quicker at the regional level compared to both the country and industry level. Other topics covered include institutional foundations and their influence on local social acceptance of entrepreneurship, the role of global value chains on bilateral trade and the determinants of cross-border innovation cooperation focusing on partner selection and location. Students, researchers and scholars will find this an important resource that fills numerous knowledge gaps and opens new avenues for research. It will also appeal to consultants, practitioners and planners at the international, regional and local level.Contributors include: C. Alfken, M. Andersson, T. Arvemo, L. Bjerke, A.P. Cornett, N. de Vries, S. Fredina, H. Goldstein, U. Gråsjö, K.E. Heynes, R.E. Hjaltadóttir, V. Jienwatcharamongkhol, B. Johansson, M. Jogmark, C. Karlsson, T. Makkonen, A. Naveed, K. Nyström, J. Parajuli, V. Peer, A. Risselada, V. Schutjens, S. Sedlacek, N.K. Sørensen, T.-A. Stone, S. Tavassol, I. Viklund Ros, P. Warda

Political Entrepreneurship explores the role of political entrepreneurs in regional growth and entrepreneurial diversity. The authors define a political entrepreneur as a politician, bureaucrat or officer within the publicly funded sector who encourages entrepreneurship for growth and employment using innovative approaches. This book aims to enrich the established research on entrepreneurship with in-depth knowledge of the conditions conducive for political entrepreneurship in Sweden.Political entrepreneurs have the potential to be innovative and encourage entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial diversity by fundamentally challenging the prevailing formal and informal institutions. It is argued that, in times of economic stress, political entrepreneurship is essential to find new ways of promoting growth, employment and welfare. By using social science and economics perspectives, this study complements the dominant business administration research on entrepreneurship by increasing our knowledge of the economic and political contexts in which entrepreneurship and private enterprise is conducted.This book is essential reading for students, researchers and policymakers interested in politics, economics and entrepreneurship, as well as for those working in the public sector.Contributors include: D.E. Andersson, S. Andersson, A.E. Andersson, P. Assmo, C. Berggren, T. Bromander, C. Karlsson, M. Nilsson, C. Silander, D. Silander, P. Strömblad, M.-L. von Bergmann-Winberg, Y. von Friedrichs, E. Wihlborg

As a consequence of globalization, news, ideas and knowledge are moving quickly across national borders and generating international spillovers. So too, however, are economic and financial crises. Combining a variety of methods, concepts and interdisciplinary approaches, this book provides an in-depth examination of these structural changes and their impact.Case studies from a range of countries including Japan, Turkey, Sweden, Germany and the USA offer insight into different national contexts and are used to explore a variety of theoretical and empirical issues relating to the geography of growth. Assessing the implications of globalization for businesses and sectors, the chapters focus on the interdependencies between different economic and political layers, and explore topics such as human capital, creativity, innovation, networks and collaboration. Researchers and policy makers who are interested in regional growth at different spatial scales will find that this work addresses a number of existing knowledge gaps. Students of economics, economic geography, regional science and international industrial management will also find it to be a valuable interdisciplinary resource to help deepen their knowledge of the myriad processes induced by globalization.Contributors include: G.M. Artz, T. Arvemo, G. Cook, A.P. Cornett, U. Grasjo, Z. Guo, M. Hirano, O. Hovardaoglu, N. Javakhishvili-Larsen, C. Karlsson, M. Klatt, M. Kurashige, H. Loof, A. Naveed, M. Olsson, O. Olsson, P.F. Orazem, O. Pesamaa, K. Sakakibara, Y. Shevtsova, T.-A. Stone, M. Svensson, T. Wallin

Developed countries must be incredibly innovative to secure incomes and welfare so that they may successfully compete against international rivals. This book focuses on two specific but interrelated aspects of innovation by incumbent firms and entrepreneurs, the role of geography and of open innovation. Geography, Open Innovation and Entrepreneurship discusses entrepreneurship from both theoretical and empirical viewpoints to provide readers with a wide range of cutting-edge and compelling studies. The authors highlight the critical importance of open innovation for performance and progress, putting forward determinants of economic growth and development rarely analyzed in standard growth studies. Researchers and students will find this book useful for innovation and entrepreneurship studies. It is also a helpful tool for policymakers, planners and consultants involved in economic development and regional policies. Contributors include: F. Armellini, T. Arvemo, I. Bernhard, C. Beaudry, P.-O. Bjuggren, A. Caloffi, N. Carbonara, A.P. Cornett, K. Delbiaggio, M. Elmoznino Laufer, S. Fredin, U. Gråsjö, C.J. Hauser, M. Héroux-Vaillancourt, J.A. Jordaan, A. Johnston, C. Karlsson, M. Kaufmann, P. Lassalle, M. Mahon, V. Monastiriotis, R. Pellegrino, H. Reijonen, R. Righi, S. Rohde, F. Rossi, M. Russo, J. Saastamoinen, T. Tammi, S. Yamamura

The recent economic crisis has had severe and negative impacts on the EU over the last decade. This book focuses on a neglected dimension by examining European political entrepreneurship in times of economic crisis with particular emphasis on EU member-states, institutions and policies. Governance and Political Entrepreneurship in Europe examines the role that the political entrepreneur can play in promoting entrepreneurship and growth. The book includes an actor and a structure perspective by focussing on politicians and institutions within the public sector that use innovative approaches to encourage businesses with a goal of growth and employment. This exemplary book is a useful tool for entrepreneurship and political science scholars wishing to gain a better understanding of the ways in which political bodies can impact economic development. EU politicians and public servants would also benefit from reading this timely book as it offers key information on how they can help to promote growth. Contributors include: M. Alebaki, C. Berggren, M.-L. von Bergmann-Winberg, S. Gretzinger, C. Karlsson, B. Leick, A. Olausson, A. Parkhouse, E. Petridou, B. Pircher, C. Silander, D. Silander, P. Strömblad, S. Tavassoli, E. Wihlborg

Many developed countries are facing a demographic change with an increasing share of older individuals, yet little is known about how older workers will impact regional and national economies in terms of labor market dynamics. One possible outcome of this new demographic structure is that more individuals will become entrepreneurs at an older age.This Handbook contributes to the important and emerging field of entrepreneurship among this group and focuses on the behavioral perspectives of this phenomenon; on innovation, dynamics and performance; and the ways entrepreneurship among the elderly looks within different countries.Researchers interested in the field of entrepreneurship among older workers and policy makers dealing with the effects of changing demographic settings within countries or regions will turn to this work to gain a better understanding of entrepreneurship and aging.Contributors include: Z. Acs, M. Amaral, A.E. Brouwer, M. Cucculelli, M. Damman, H. Delfmann, M. Dragusin, R. Fonseca, M. Fritsch, M.M. Gielnik, J. Hessels, C. Holmquist, M. Klinthäll, B. Leick, R. Mariana, A. Maritz, C. Matos, H. Mayer, M. Mensmann, G. Micucci, S.C. Parker, A. Sorgner, R. Sternberg, E. Sundin, P. van der Zwan, H. Van Solinge, D. Welsh, M. Wyrwich, H. Zacher, T. Zhang

This timely and engaging book explores the role of European political entrepreneurship in debating, shaping and implementing the Europe 2020 strategy. Insightful chapters analyse the content, conditions and consequences of Europe 2020, investigating the plan for a future prosperous EU economy. Focussing on how European political entrepreneurship functions in times of crisis, Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth considers these crises as potential windows of opportunity. The expert contributors highlight how the 2020 strategy has been debated, decided on, and then implemented from a governance perspective with multiple actors, and look ahead to necessary future developments. Further to this, multi-level governance is discussed as a way to address the demanded socio-economic goals across the EU in order to effect smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Entrepreneurship and public policy scholars, particularly those with an interest in European affairs will find this book to be an interesting read. It will also prove to be a powerful resource for politicians and public servants working within the Europe 2020 strategy.Contributors include: H. Ekelund, A. Haglund-Morrissey, C. Karlsson, M. Nilsson, M. Öhlén, A. Parkhouse, B. Pircher, C. Silander, D. Silander, S. Tavassoli

Increased emphasis on the links between regional diversity and regional knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship highlights the need for a focus on the spatial aspects of these multifaceted, dynamic relationships in order to improve our understanding. By means of a conceptual approach, this timely book illustrates the links between innovation and economic development through the role of space. This thought-provoking book addresses the questions regarding diversity, innovation and clusters that require further investigation and analysis. Chapters written by expert contributors bring together cutting-edge theoretical and empirical studies to consider issues such as how spatial diversity affects collaboration, knowledge and innovation; how innovation arises in various locations; how innovative approaches can be identified for local regeneration; and how the growing visibility and importance of start-up companies in the global economy can be analysed.Diversity, Innovation and Clusters will be a key resource for students and academics researching in the fields of economic geography, regional economics, innovation and entrepreneurship. This book provides insights that will be crucial for providing policy makers, planners and consultants with a more comprehensive decision-making platform by utilising spatial perspectives as a driving force for economic growth and development.Contributors include: T. Arvemo, D. Bartlett, K. Berg, I. Bernhard, U. Gråsjö, T. Grønning, M. Imase, I. Jonsson, C. Karlsson, N. Kishida, U. Lundh Snis, M. McKelvey, T. Maeno, L. Mósesdóttir, T. Mroczkowski, G.F. Mulligan, M. Okuyama, A.K. Olsson, K. Sakakura, T. Yasui

This book expertly analyses European political entrepreneurship in relation to the EU's approach towards the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development strategy. It explores the role of European political entrepreneurs in shaping, influencing and realising sustainable development goals (SDGs).Leading contributors consider political entrepreneurship at an international level, explaining how European political entrepreneurs act and interact in order to promote their policies at various levels of governance. Focusing on how EU politicians, public servants and bureaucrats create new and innovative institutional conditions, the contributors reveal how the UN SDGs are implemented in Europe. Chapters examine several EU actors in the context of numerous development goals to assess how political entrepreneurship challenges traditional EU institutions and promotes visionary activity to achieve the goals of Agenda 2030.Providing a unique contribution to the growing pool of research on entrepreneurial activity in the public sector, this book will prove to be a valuable resource for scholars working at the intersection between entrepreneurship, policy-making and European politics. It will also be beneficial for students and practitioners who are interested in global issues and sustainable development.

Illuminating and timely, this book explores several theoretical and empirical issues related to the potential for increasing capacities for innovation, knowledge and entrepreneurship. It highlights the current academic and political consensus that calls for policy interventions targeted towards more balanced, inclusive and regionally cohesive growth.Bringing together a wide range of cutting-edge case studies and research on regional potentials, the book explores the need for a focus on the regional inequality aspects of innovating, knowledge and entrepreneurship. Chapters analyse previously underexplored determinants of regional economic growth and development often overlooked in standard growth studies. They offer a deeper understanding of the drivers and implications of sub-national disparities in entrepreneurship and innovation in both developed and developing countries. Scholars and researchers of innovation, entrepreneurship, regional economics and spatial planning will appreciate the blend of empirical and theoretical viewpoints in the book. It will also be a useful tool for policymakers, planners and consultants involved in economic development and regional policies on different scales.

This book analyses the conception of economic development in modern regions, which has gone through a fundamental change since the early 1980s. Regions are today increasingly looked upon as independent market places that are connected via interregional and international trade and not as administrative units embodied in a national state.Two complementary theoretical frameworks explain the specialization of economic activity at the regional level. The traditional approach assumes that the comparative advantages of regions depend upon differences in the supply of lasting resources. In contrast the new complementary framework called the New Economic Geography, assumes that the dynamic interaction between geographical market potentials and rational firms in its own way creates the comparative advantage of regions. The contributors to this book examine the policy implications of the complementarity of the competing views in a variety of geographic and functional contexts. The first set of papers examines the effect of regional policy on firm locational decision-making. This leads to another set evaluating a variety of regional policy efforts. New and different methodological approaches are examined in another set of papers. The final part of the book focuses on new concepts.Economists, geographers and readers interested in regionalization, trade and development will find this book informative.

Providing a picture of the processes of economic change in Europe, of which EU harmonization policies and transition policies form an integral part, the editors present a collection of articles on current issues in central and east European countries.Perhaps the most dramatic phenomenon to impact on Europe in the next two decades will be the economic integration of central and east European countries with the rest of Europe. Consequently, significant impacts should be seen in regional and international patterns of trade, demography, employment, and financial flows. The editors discuss the problems transitional economies will face and the strategies they may adopt in the context of the European economic integration process and these sectoral issues.Bringing together novel research by those within the emerging market economies, this book will be of great interest to researchers and policymakers and planners in organizations dealing with economic integration and transitional economy issues.

This book reveals the key importance, in terms of international competitiveness, of firms' capability to adapt to, and develop, new technologies. At the same time, the authors argue that the sheer complexity of emerging technologies is such that the knowledge involved in their creation is likely to be dispersed and distributed between many individuals and over numerous locations. The authors argue that even if one assumes that the internal knowledge base is of strategic importance to many companies, most of the knowledge used by the majority of companies is developed outside the company. Since much knowledge is tacit in nature, the location of companies and their different departments become vital in accessing such knowledge, and there are strong reasons to believe that spillover effects are geographically bounded. Hence, it may often be of strategic importance to companies and their competitiveness to be represented in the 'right' industrial clusters. This book highlights a number of issues at the leading edge of both research and policy making, such as knowledge generation/production, knowledge distribution/transfer, knowledge spillovers, learning, knowledge management, information logistics, industrial clusters, industrial networks and regional innovation systems.This book will appeal to academics and researchers of knowledge management, technology and innovation and industrial organisation. Policy makers and planners in international organisations, national and regional governments - in particular those dealing with R&D policies, industrial policies and regional policies - will also find much to engage them.

This book provides a state-of-the-art overview of spatial industrial clusters and inter-firm networks. Given the prevailing political belief that clusters can be a major vehicle for economic development and growth, it is important to have a sound understanding of clusters and how they emerge, grow, eventually stagnate and disappear. It is also vital to know when and how to apply policy measures to support cluster development in order to increase economic welfare. This book illuminates both the theoretical and empirical issues relating to clusters and inter-firm networks, and presents a number of interesting case studies from a variety of different countries.The authors study a number of important issues including interaction within and between clusters, the spatial dimensions and characteristics of this interaction, the factors which contribute to cluster formation, and the conditions and policies conducive to the development and sustainability of successful clusters. They also investigate whether firms in clusters perform better than those that are excluded, and illustrate how the importance of clusters can vary significantly between different industries. The authors go on to address the role of clusters in knowledge spillovers and their implications for the functioning of the overall economy, and highlight the effect of new information and communications technologies on cluster configurations and operations.Regional economists, economic geographers and regional scientists will welcome this comprehensive new volume. It will also be a useful reference tool for policymakers and planners involved in industrial and regional economic development.