ABSTRACT
To have a good chance at being successful in this mission locally, the old legacy-planning approaches need to be examined and changed when they are found to be incongruent with the new dynamics of the global knowledge economy and network society. This means deviating from, and overcoming path dependence; changing the mindsets of the area’s planners and stakeholders; developing a new and effective strategic governance structure for the region; and attending to the disparities inherent across the area’s economically distressed communities. Among other initiatives, the regions need to give the highest investment priority to (1) investing in, and realizing high-quality local human and intellectual capital, and to (2) the development and the realization of a creative enterprise culture.
