ABSTRACT
Bringing together a wide range of empirical studies from around the world (Sweden, Norway, Austria, Germany, France, UK, Israel, Russia, China, Taiwan, Argentina, Canada), framed in related contemporary theoretical frameworks, this book examines the question of the significance of proximate vs. more distant relationships for economic agents' performance and local economic development. While this question has been the subject of intense debates in recent years, it is obvious that proximity and distance are not explanatory factors as such. The book argues for the need to understand the aims of economic relationships, the nature of the regional environment in which they originate, and the scale at which they operate. The book suggests that the notions of diversity, innovativeness, maturity and multiple scales should be incorporated into the debates on the significance of proximity for economic performance.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part 1|22 pages
Setting the Stage
part 2|85 pages
‘Localisation’: Clusters, Industrial Districts, and All That - Evidence and Qualifications
part 3|107 pages
Establishing External Relations: The Search for Specialized or Diverse Competences?
part 4|87 pages
Economic Interaction on Multiple Scales
part 5|27 pages
Adding Value