The emphasis of this book lies on emerging hypotheses, new methods and theoretic developments in the field of regional economic development. A further amplification is provided with a diverse set of cases extending this new way of thinking at the theory and methods level into policy and practice. The case studies range from a focus on Europe, Central and East Asia and North America. Considerable emphasis is laid on the role of entrepreneurship and innovation as drivers of economic growth and development on the sub-national regional level.
From the reviews: "This book provides an evaluation of new directions in regional economic development, particularly the role of entrepreneurship and innovation as drivers of economic growth and development on the sub-national regional level. ... volume contains many useful contributions embracing a variety of theories and practice in innovation and regional dynamics, which are ambitious both in scope and content. ... This volume would be recommended for scholars in any discipline interested in the innovation dimension of regional economics. The chapters are all theoretically and methodologically rigorous." (Xinyue Ye, Regional Studies, Vol. 45 (4), April, 2011) "Explores the various facets of knowledge creation in the regional context. The authors of its 21 chapters address topics as diverse as the economics of creativity, entrepreneurial cities, patents and knowledge spillovers, memes, network and traffic flows, infrastructure in the regional production function, R&D location, and innovation fields. ... It would be useful to follow up studies of this sort to discern how knowledge-based geographic clusters evolve through the usual product cycle ... . a lovely testimonial to Professor Johansson's influential work in regional science." (Gordon Mulligan, Journal of Regional Science, Vol. 51 (2), 2011)