This article develops an evolutionary framework of regional resilience with a primary focus on the structural properties of local knowledge networks. After presenting the network-based rationales of ...growth and structuring of clusters, we analyze under which structural conditions a regional cluster can achieve short-run competitiveness without compromising long-run resilience capabilities. We show that the properties of degree distribution (the level of hierarchy) and degree correlation (the level of structural homophily) of regional knowledge networks should be studied to understand how clusters succeed in combining technological lock-in with regional lock-out. We propose simple statistical measures of cluster structuring to highlight these properties and discuss the results in a policy-oriented analysis. We conclude showing that policies for regional resilience should focus on ex-ante regional diagnosis and targeted interventions on particular missing links, rather than ex-postmyopic applications of policies based on an unconditional increase of network relational density.
The system of indicators of the population’s socio-economic vulnerability is the determinant of regions’ social resilience. The growth of these indicators leads to the emergence of new and ...aggravation of existing social risks and threats in different time periods. The paper aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the population’s social resilience environment in the Carpathian region of Ukraine. The environment of the population social resilience in the oblasts of the Carpathian region of Ukraine is assessed based on the theory of elasticity by calculating the temporal weight coefficients of 31 indicators (systematized in 4 groups) and integral empirical coefficient of the environment by multiplicative assessment. The results show that among the oblasts of the Carpathian region of Ukraine, the social resilience environment was the highest in Zakarpatska and Ivano-Frankivska oblasts (0.530 each) in 2019, and in Lvivska (0.540) and Chernivetska (0.585) oblasts in 2014. The growth of the social resilience environment rate was recorded in Lvivska (0.630) and Chernivetska (0.691) oblasts in the period of economic capacity recovery (2018). The average annual growth pace of the coefficient of deviation of the empirical social resilience environment rate from the national rate ranged from –1.29% to –0.26%. The study can serve as an information-analytical basis for developing the regional policy to secure the convergence of social standards of social resilience between the Carpathian region and neighboring EU countries (adherence to the principles of consumption safety and social responsibility, growing resistance of the healthcare system, balanced labor market and employment, development of clean and safe living spaces).
AcknowledgmentThe study was conducted within the framework of applied research “Mechanisms of the proactive policy for reducing social vulnerability of the population (based on the Carpathian region of Ukraine)” (No SR 0121U112014, M. Dolishniy Institute of Regional Research of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 2021–2023).
The paper provides a statistically robust evaluation of the impact of state aid on capital accumulation in subsidized firms. The analysis considers subsidies allocated to the southern Italian regions ...over the period 1996–2004 under the regional policy, Law 488/1992. We apply an MDID estimator, taking selection on observables and non observables into account. Results evidence a higher growth in output, employment and fixed assets in subsidized firms but a lesser increase in Total Factor Productivity than in unsubsidized firms. The negative impact on long term productivity and growth reduces the positive temporary effects of regional subsidies.
This study investigated the inter-relationships among airport subsidies, air transport activity, and regional wellbeing by applying a three-stage least squares structural model using a panel dataset ...of New Zealand's regions from 2010 to 2019. By investigating these inter-relationships, the study provides empirical evidence of the necessity of implementing regional airport subsidies in New Zealand, and contributes to the regional aviation literature. The empirical findings reveal that implementing airport subsidies significantly increased scheduled flight seat capacity and helped unprofitable regional airports to increase their regional air transport activity. This study also shows that increases in airport subsidies can facilitate economic growth and employment in the region in which the airport is located. More importantly, this study empirically finds that regional air transport activity, economic growth, and environmental sustainability should be critical considerations when determining airport subsidies. These findings have profound implications for regional policymakers and airport stakeholders.
•Explore airport subsidies' impacts in New Zealand's regions.•Investigate relationships among airport subsidies, aviation activity and wellbeing.•Economic development should be factored into subsidy policy decision process.•Environmental sustainability is vital for determining airport subsidies.
ABSTRACT The paper examines the debates regarding place‐neutral versus place‐based policies for economic development. The analysis is set in the context of how development policy thinking on the part ...of both scholars and international organizations has evolved over several decades. Many of the previously accepted arguments have been called into question by the impacts of globalization and a new response to these issues has emerged, a response both to these global changes and also to nonspatial development approaches. The debates are highlighted in the context of a series of major reports recently published on the topic. The cases of the developing world and the European Union are used as examples of how in this changing context development intervention should increasingly focus on efficiency and social inclusion at the expense of an emphasis on territorial convergence and how strategies should consider economic, social, political, and institutional diversity in order to maximize both the local and the aggregate potential for economic development.
This review analyses and compares the most promising methods to perform ex ante economic and environmental assessment of policies at the meso scale, i.e. from local communities to subnational ...regions. These methods called Economic-Environment Integrated Models (EEIM) are based on the coupling of formalised economic modelling tools with environmental assessment methods. The economic modelling tools considered are Input Output (IO) models, Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) and Partial Equilibrium (PE) models, Agent-Based models (ABM), and System Dynamics (SD) models, which we pair with environmental assessment methods such as Footprints (FP), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), or Material Flow Analysis (MFA). A grid of criteria is developed to perform a qualitative rating of the EEIMs according to existing literature. The grid encompasses the detail level of the economic modelling, the level of coupling between environmental and economic tools, the quality and diversity of indicators, the ability to account for diverse indirect effects, spatial differentiation, time aspects, and the coupled model usability. First, the results show that the couplings do not perform on the same criteria, which shows complementarity to deal with diverse issues. Second, overall, for most criteria, PE/CGE models coupled with FP/LCA ranked highest. Third, a few case studies showed that couplings involving a third tool can be beneficial— for instance AB modelling or MFA with PE/CGE-LCA/FP may allow to overcome some shortcomings such as agent behaviour modelling or data availability for biophysical flows.
•Reviews couplings of 5 types of economic models and 3 environmental assessment tools.•Partial and Equilibrium models coupled with footprints methods and LCA rank well.•Building couplings involving a 3rd model addresses some shortcomings.•Scarcity of subnational scale data is a frequent obstacle.
National and global mitigation scenarios consistent with 1.5°C require an early phase-out of coal in major coal-dependent countries, compared to standard technical and economic lifetimes. This ...appears particularly apparent in the light of recent massive investments in coal power capacity, the significant pipeline of coal power capacity coming online, as well as upstream supporting infrastructure. This article analyses the existing and planned capital stock in the coal power sector in the light of scenarios consistent with 1.5°C. The article analyses the political economy and labour aspects of this abrupt and significant transition, in the light of domestic equity and development objectives. Firstly, the article examines employment issues and reviews the existing literature and practice with support schemes for regional and sectoral structural adjustment for the reduction of coal sector activity. Secondly, the paper surveys the domestic political economy of coal sector transition in major coal using countries, namely Australia, South Africa, China and India. A final section provides conclusions and policy recommendations.
Key policy insights
Achieving mitigation pathways in line with limiting warming to 1.5°C, or even well-below 2°C, would require the early retirement of coal sector assets in production and consumption.
Historically, coal sector transition has often been associated with prolonged socio-economic dislocation in affected regions.
Policies to accompany affected regions are thus a crucial part of policy mixes to limit warming to 1.5°C and even 2°C.
Such policies should be anticipatory and long-term, as opposed to reactive policies focused on short-term measures to smooth the transition.
A survey of major coal using countries shows that each is a long way from putting in place a long-term framework to transition the coal sector.
This paper is a theoretical contribution to interrogate and elucidate a term commonly used (but rarely interrogated) from the perspective of the economic geography field within which we work: ...peripheries. As researchers of “peripheries” we are all too familiar with the fuzziness and problematic nature of this term, and our long-standing research agenda is to work towards clarifying and nuancing it, addressing its role in either stigmatizing or assuming some predetermined destiny for different regions and territories. This paper reviews the work conducted on peripheries within economic geography, and identifies a number of gaps or problems in the way in which this term is used. The paper proposes a way forwards for addressing these problems, in a series of “suggestions” as to how we can do better in researching economic geographies of peripheries. The final discussion reorients our debate towards possible avenues for the research community to anchor peripheries in theoretical advancements and a more systemic approach to empirical investigations. Finally, this paper proposes a holistic framework for studying peripheries in economic geography, which take into account environmental, socio-cultural, and political elements as well as pure economic issues.
•In-depth literature review of the treatment of the concept of the periphery within economic geography.•Pinpoints four “problems” with the way that the concept has been used in the past and provides some solutions.•Develops a research agenda for peripheries which takes account of economic, environmental, socio cultural and political dimensions.•Provides specific research questions and themes for the field of peripheries research within economic geography to address.
Objective. This article is devoted to the analysis of the concept of an agro-industrial cluster and the development of recommendations for improving competitiveness in the agro-industrial complex.
...Materials and methods. The research methodology is based on the collection and analysis of initial data and information. The article uses a systematic approach to the study of socio-economic processes and phenomena. The study is based on modern theories of competition, innovation, as well as the modern paradigm of the cluster development of the economy.
Results. The conducted research makes a certain contribution to the development of theoretical science. A model of the structure of a regional industrial agricultural cluster is proposed. Practical recommendations can be used by economic and state authorities, heads of agricultural organizations, peasant (farm) enterprises, LPH.
Conclusion. It is concluded that the characteristic features of the cluster and the effects arising in it increase the competitiveness of both individual members of the cluster and the cluster as a whole, and the competitiveness of the region in which the cluster is located, which, in turn, leads to an increase in the competitiveness of the national economy.