ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the 'industrial transition' proposition to as certain to what degree changes in the nature of contemporary investment, economic and labour processes are mirrored by altered strategies of cities and regions to influence the investment environment. From an Australasian urban perspective, it was argued that there are proliferating attempts to create a globally competitive investment environment for economic agents by means of new imaginaries, calculative practices, best practice and policy import, sustained urban place-making and marketing efforts, and strategic network building. This study illuminates the fact that too often new ideas, models and benchmarks are confined to places in the Anglo-phone world. Territorial economic governance can be approached from two complimentary political economy perspectives. The author acknowledges the valuable research contributions by Janine Hatch and Julie Cammell from the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Western Australia as well as the excellent technical assistance from Louise Holbrook.
