Competitiveness, Localised Learning and Regional Development: Specialization and Prosperity in Small Open Economies (Routledge Frontiers of Political Economy, No 13)

Drawing on a rich literature and case study material from selected industries, and elaborating on key concepts such as firms and competencies, industries and industrial systems, and competitiveness and prosperity, this book sets out to answer three broad research questions: • What is competition about in today's economy? • Why do geographical areas (local milieus, cities, regions, countries) specialize in particular types of economic activity, and why do patterns of specialization, once in place tend to be so tremendously durable? • How can high-cost regions in general and small industrialized countries in particular sustain competitiveness and prosperity in an increasingly globally integrated world economy? This book points the way out of a dilemma created by recent industrial theory and policy: is it possible for countries which are not destined to be leading high-tech powers to take advantage of the current conjuncture of increasingly open-markets. Economics, Finance, Business and Industry Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 List of figures 9 List of tables and cases 10 About the authors 11 Foreword by Michael Storper 12 Preface 16 Regional specialisation and localised learning;An introduction 18 Ubiquitification, knowledge and localised capabilites 34 Sustainable patterns of specialisation in a globalised economy 36 Firm competitiveness through knowledge creation 46 Localised capabilities and the competitiveness of regions and countries 67 Small countries, localised learning and lack of learning: the cases of furniture, fish and phones 90 Small nations: how to sustain prosperity in open, low-tech economies 92 Comfort and competitiveness: the wooden furniture industry 115 Natural resources and the institutional endowment: the fishing industry 137 Footloose communications: the mobile phone industry 168 Conclusions and policy implications 194 Towards a learning-based industrial and regional policy 196 Notes 212 References 232 Author index 263 Subject index 268 Foreword / Michael Storper -- 1. Regional Specialisation And Localised Learning -- An Introduction -- 2. Sustainable Patterns Of Specialisation In A Globalised Economy -- 3. Firm Competitiveness Through Knowledge Creation -- 4. Localised Capabilities And The Competitiveness Of Regions And Countries -- 5. Small Nations: How To Sustain Prosperity In Open, Low-tech Economies -- 6. Comfort And Competitiveness: The Wooden Furniture Industry -- 7. Natural Resources And The Institutional Endowment: The Fishing Industry -- 8. Footloose Communications: The Mobile Phone Industry -- 9. Towards A Learning-based Industrial And Regional Policy. Peter Maskell ... [et Al.]. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 215-245) And Index. As an academic discipline, economic geography has held a subordinate position in relation to other branches of economics and business studies for many decades.