Ron Martin – författare

The Handbook considers innovation from fresh perspectives, encompassing topics such as services innovation, inward investment and innovation, creative industry innovation and green innovation. It is divided into seven sections, dealing with regional innovation and growth theory, dynamics, evolution, agglomeration, innovation ''worlds'', innovation system institutions, and innovation governance and policy.

This definitive compendium on regional innovation and growth will undoubtedly appeal to teachers, students, researchers and practitioners of innovation and growth dynamics worldwide.

Contributors: M. Abreu, E.S. Andersen, Y. Aoyama, B. Asheim, S. Bagchi-Sen, M. Bellandi, F. Belussi, R. Boschma, N. Bosma, S. Breschi, R. Capello, C. Carrincazeaux, J.L. Christensen, P. Cooke, M. Coris, O. Crevoisier, L. De Propris, A. Eriksson, D. Felsenstein, A. Frenkel, K. Frenken, E. Giuliani, V. Harmaakorpi, M. Heidenreich, R. Horner, S. Iammarino, A. Isaksen, A. James, M. Klofsten, K. Koschatzky, A. Lagendijk, L. Lazzeretti, E. Malecki, R. Martin, H. Melkas, C. Nauwelaers, S. Öberg, P. Prud''homme van Reine, S. Ptak, S. Rosenfeld, V. Schutjens, D. Schwartz, D. Shefer, J. Simmie, E. Stam, M. Steiner, P. Sunley, G. Tichy, F. Tödtling, M. Trippl, T. Tura, E. Vatne, D. Wolfe

Regional policies intended to reduce geographical inequalities in economic prosperity and performance across the UK date back to 1928. Yet, today, the UK has one of the highest levels of spatial economic inequality of any of the OECD nations. Many of today’s lagging regions and cities are the same as in the 1920s and 1930s, and these have been joined by other economically disadvantaged areas. This raises the key question as to why past regional policies have had such limited lasting impact. This collection of interrogative essays, by experts in their respective fields, examines past policies to identify both their positive and the negative aspects with a view to explaining that question.

Several recurring weaknesses of past policies are identified (including inadequate resources, excessive churn of policies, a lack of strategic vision, inadequate embeddedness into mainstream policymaking, and a disproportionate concentration of economic, financial, and political power in London). Whilst recent major policy initiatives, including levelling up, an industrial strategy, and devolution, go some way to addressing the limitations of past policy, whether they are likely to achieve a more spatially balanced economy at what is a critical time for the UK’s national economy is debatable.

This book will be of value to students, researchers, and policymakers in the fields of regional and urban development.

Regional policies intended to reduce geographical inequalities in economic prosperity and performance across the UK date back to 1928. Yet, today, the UK has one of the highest levels of spatial economic inequality of any of the OECD nations. Many of today’s lagging regions and cities are the same as in the 1920s and 1930s, and these have been joined by other economically disadvantaged areas. This raises the key question as to why past regional policies have had such limited lasting impact. This collection of interrogative essays, by experts in their respective fields, examines past policies to identify both their positive and the negative aspects with a view to explaining that question.

Several recurring weaknesses of past policies are identified (including inadequate resources, excessive churn of policies, a lack of strategic vision, inadequate embeddedness into mainstream policymaking, and a disproportionate concentration of economic, financial, and political power in London). Whilst recent major policy initiatives, including levelling up, an industrial strategy, and devolution, go some way to addressing the limitations of past policy, whether they are likely to achieve a more spatially balanced economy at what is a critical time for the UK’s national economy is debatable.

This book will be of value to students, researchers, and policymakers in the fields of regional and urban development.

Using international examples, leading scholars present the first critical analysis of cluster theory, assessing the cluster notion and drawing out, not only its undoubted strengths and attractions, but also its weaknesses and limitations.

Over the past decade the ‘cluster model’ has been seized on as a tool for promoting competitiveness, innovation and growth on local, regional and national scales. However, despite its popularity there is much about it that is problematic, and in some respects the rush to employ ‘cluster ideas’ has run ahead of many fundamental conceptual, theoretical and empirical questions.

Addressing key questions on the nature, use and effectiveness of cluster models, Clusters and Regional Development provides the missing thorough theoretical and empirical evaluation.

Using international examples, leading scholars present the first critical analysis of cluster theory, assessing the cluster notion and drawing out, not only its undoubted strengths and attractions, but also its weaknesses and limitations.

Over the past decade the ‘cluster model’ has been seized on as a tool for promoting competitiveness, innovation and growth on local, regional and national scales. However, despite its popularity there is much about it that is problematic, and in some respects the rush to employ ‘cluster ideas’ has run ahead of many fundamental conceptual, theoretical and empirical questions.

Addressing key questions on the nature, use and effectiveness of cluster models, Clusters and Regional Development provides the missing thorough theoretical and empirical evaluation.

In recent years, the local dimensions of the labour market have attracted increasing attention from academic analysts and public policy-makers alike. There is growing realization that there is no such thing as the national labour market, instead a mosaic of local and regional markets that differ in nature, performance and regulation. Geographies of Labour Market Inequality is concerned with these multiple geographies of employment, unemployment, work and incomes, and their implications for public policy.

In recent years, the local dimensions of the labour market have attracted increasing attention from academic analysts and public policy-makers alike. There is growing realization that there is no such thing as the national labour market, instead a mosaic of local and regional markets that differ in nature, performance and regulation. Geographies of Labour Market Inequality is concerned with these multiple geographies of employment, unemployment, work and incomes, and their implications for public policy.

There is now a wide spread interest in regions as a key focus in the organization and governance of economic growth and wealth creation. This important book considers the factors that influence and shape the competitive performance of regions.

This is not just an issue of academic interest and debate, but also of increasing policy deliberation and action. However, as the readings in this book make clear, the very idea of regional competitiveness is itself complex and contentious. Many academics and policy makers have used the concept without fully considering what is meant by the term and how it can be measured. Policy formulation has tended to rush ahead of understanding and analysis, and the purpose of this book is to close this important gap in understanding.

This book was previously published as a special issue of Regional Studies.

There is now a wide spread interest in regions as a key focus in the organization and governance of economic growth and wealth creation. This important book considers the factors that influence and shape the competitive performance of regions.

This is not just an issue of academic interest and debate, but also of increasing policy deliberation and action. However, as the readings in this book make clear, the very idea of regional competitiveness is itself complex and contentious. Many academics and policy makers have used the concept without fully considering what is meant by the term and how it can be measured. Policy formulation has tended to rush ahead of understanding and analysis, and the purpose of this book is to close this important gap in understanding.

This book was previously published as a special issue of Regional Studies.