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Towards a theory of regional diversification: combining insights from Evolutionary Economic Geography and Transition Studies

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  • Ron Boschma
  • Lars Coenen
  • Koen Frenken
  • Bernhard Truffer

Abstract

Towards a theory of regional diversification: combining insights from Evolutionary Economic Geography and Transition Studies. Regional Studies. This paper develops a theoretical framework of regional diversification by combining insights from Evolutionary Economic Geography and Transition Studies. It argues that a theory of regional diversification should not only build on the current understanding of related diversification but also account for processes of unrelated diversification by looking at the role of agency in processes of institutional entrepreneurship, and at enabling and constraining factors at various spatial scales. This paper proposes a typology of four regional diversification trajectories by cross-tabulating related versus unrelated diversification with niche creation versus regime adoption, and it develops a number of propositions.

Suggested Citation

  • Ron Boschma & Lars Coenen & Koen Frenken & Bernhard Truffer, 2017. "Towards a theory of regional diversification: combining insights from Evolutionary Economic Geography and Transition Studies," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(1), pages 31-45, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:51:y:2017:i:1:p:31-45
    DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2016.1258460
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gertler, Meric S., 2004. "Manufacturing Culture: The Institutional Geography of Industrial Practice," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198233824.
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    4. Jing Xiao & Ron Boschma & Martin Andersson, 2018. "Industrial Diversification in Europe: The Differentiated Role of Relatedness," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 94(5), pages 514-549, October.
    5. Frank Neffke & Matté Hartog & Ron Boschma & Martin Henning, 2018. "Agents of Structural Change: The Role of Firms and Entrepreneurs in Regional Diversification," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 94(1), pages 23-48, January.
    6. Isaksen , Arne & Trippl , Michaela, 2014. "Regional industrial path development in different regional innovation systems: A conceptual analysis," Papers in Innovation Studies 2014/17, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
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    Cited by:

    1. Veldhuizen, Caroline, 2021. "Conceptualising the foundations of sustainability focused innovation policy: From constructivism to holism," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    2. De Noni, Ivan & Ganzaroli, Andrea & Pilotti, Luciano, 2021. "Spawning exaptive opportunities in European regions: The missing link in the smart specialization framework," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(6).
    3. Askarany, Davood & Spraakman, Gary, 2020. "Regional diversification and financial performance through an excess-capacity theory lens: A new explanation for mixed results," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    4. Strambach, Simone & Pflitsch, Gesa, 2020. "Transition topology: Capturing institutional dynamics in regional development paths to sustainability," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(7).
    5. John Bachtler & Iain Begg, 2018. "Beyond Brexit: Reshaping policies for regional development in Europe," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 97(1), pages 151-170, March.
    6. Resce, Giuliano & Vaquero-Piñeiro, Cristina, 2022. "Predicting agri-food quality across space: A Machine Learning model for the acknowledgment of Geographical Indications," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    7. Iain Begg, 2018. "Innovative Directions for EU Cohesion Policy after 2020," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 19(01), pages 03-09, March.
    8. Romão, João, 2020. "Tourism, smart specialisation, growth, and resilience," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    9. Yu, Zhen & Gibbs, David, 2018. "Encircling cities from rural areas? Barriers to the diffusion of solar water heaters in China's urban market," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 366-373.
    10. Jing Chen, 2018. "Interpreting Economic Diversity as the Presence of Multiple Specializations," Working Papers Working Paper 2018-02, Regional Research Institute, West Virginia University.
    11. Cheng, Ruiqi & Yuan, Peng & Jiang, Gongxiong, 2023. "Growth, agglomeration externalities, and survival: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing start-ups," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    12. Veldhuizen, Caroline, 2020. "Smart Specialisation as a transition management framework: Driving sustainability-focused regional innovation policy?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(6).
    13. Eum, Wonsub & Lee, Jeong-Dong, 2019. "Role of production in fostering innovation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 84, pages 1-10.
    14. Caviggioli, F. & Colombelli, A. & De Marco, A. & Scellato, G. & Ughetto, E., 2023. "The impact of university patenting on the technological specialization of European regions: a technology-level analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    15. Castellani, Davide & Marin, Giovanni & Montresor, Sandro & Zanfei, Antonello, 2022. "Greenfield foreign direct investments and regional environmental technologies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(1).
    16. Tuukka Mäkitie & Allan D. Andersen & Jens Hanson, 2019. "Multidimensional relatedness between innovation systems in sustainability transitions," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1926, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Sep 2019.
    17. Capasso, Marco & Hansen, Teis & Heiberg, Jonas & Klitkou, Antje & Steen, Markus, 2019. "Green growth – A synthesis of scientific findings," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 390-402.
    18. repec:ces:ifofor:v:19:y:2018:i:1:p:03-09 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Roberto Antonietti & Sandro Montresor, 2019. "Regional diversification patterns and Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) in Italian regions," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1928, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Oct 2019.
    20. Loewen, Bradley, 2022. "Revitalizing varieties of capitalism for sustainability transitions research: Review, critique and way forward," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).

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