Description
Book SynopsisOne of the most striking paradoxes of our time has been the growing importance of regions in the face of a globalizing economy. This insightful book explains the dynamics of regions in a global economy and sheds light on the role of knowledge in driving regional growth.
The author examines the way in which regions grow by receiving knowledge from surrounding regions. Using evolutionary theory, she advances the argument that knowledge spillovers operate locally. Computer-simulations analyse the impact of knowledge spillovers on economic growth across European regions. Finally, the author uses new original data on, among others, patents and research and development to demonstrate differences in economic and innovative activity across regions.
Trade Review'. . . this book is a valuable and welcome contribution to the growing field of evolutionary minded models that are concerned with the spatial structure of industrial development . . . Marjolein Caniels deserves particular credit for combining the two dimensions of technological and spatial distance in order to explain the stylized facts of regional economic development.' -- Michael Peneder, Journal of Evolutionary Economics
'. . . the book gives a valuable contribution to the understanding of the role of knowledge in the regional growth process, as the methodological approach is eclectic and stimulating. . . the book represents a stimulating contribution to the debate among economists, social scientists, and policymakers on the role of knowledge and knowledge spillovers on the future growth patterns of industrialised countries.' -- Maurizio Baussola, The Economic Journal
'The subject of economic growth has emerged in the last several years as the most important topic in economics among academics as well as policymakers. This book makes a valuable and important contribution to identifying a key force driving economic growth in the leading developed countries - knowledge spillovers. After reading this carefully crafted book, no academic economist or policymaker will have any doubt in the primacy of knowledge in the process of economic growth.' -- David B. Audretsch, Indiana University, Bloomington, US and Otto Beisheim School WHU, Germany
Table of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction 2. Knowledge and Location 3. Evolutionary Thinking 4. Introducing Geographical Distance in the Modelling of Technology Spillovers 5. Simulation Results 6. Modelling Technology Spillovers, Introducing Countries 7. GDP per Capita Gaps, the Situation for European Regions 8. The Geographic Distribution of Patents and Value Added across European Regions 9. A Concluding Summary References Index
