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Demystifying the role of culture in innovative regional economies

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  • Al James

Abstract

James A. (2005) Demystifying the role of culture in innovative regional economies, Regional Studies 39 , 1197-1216. Within the regional learning and innovation literature, the precise impact of regional 'culture' on firms' competitive performance remains unspecified. In response, this paper draws on research on Utah's high-tech industrial agglomeration, embedded in a highly visible regional culture: Mormonism. Focusing specifically on computer software firms, the paper first shows how the cultural embeddedness of firms in the region is best understood as a series of sustained tensions between: (1) self-identified regional cultural traits imported into the firm; versus (2) key elements of corporate cultures known to underpin innovation. Second, the paper measures the material impact of that regional cultural embedding on firms' innovative capacities and hence abilities to compete. Finally, it outlines the wider relevance of the author's work with regard to the spatial limits imposed on high-tech cluster policy by cultural context.

Suggested Citation

  • Al James, 2005. "Demystifying the role of culture in innovative regional economies," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(9), pages 1197-1216.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:39:y:2005:i:9:p:1197-1216
    DOI: 10.1080/00343400500389968
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    Cited by:

    1. Anneli Kaasa & Maaja Vadi, 2010. "How does culture contribute to innovation? Evidence from European countries," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(7), pages 583-604.
    2. Miguel Gonzalez-Loureiro & Maria José Sousa & Hugo Pinto, 2017. "Culture and innovation in SMEs: the intellectual structure of research for further inquiry," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(11), pages 1908-1931, November.
    3. Manuel Fernández-Esquinas & Madelon van Oostrom & Hugo Pinto, 2017. "Key issues on innovation, culture and institutions: implications for SMEs and micro firms," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(11), pages 1897-1907, November.
    4. Sindy Martínez-Marín & Nataly Puello-Pereira & David Ovallos-Gazabon, 2020. "Cluster Competitiveness Modeling: An Approach with Systems Dynamics," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-18, February.
    5. Tao Hu & Yin Zhang, 2021. "A spatial–temporal network analysis of patent transfers from U.S. universities to firms," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(1), pages 27-54, January.
    6. Yaya Sun & Tao Wang & Xin Gu, 2019. "A Sustainable Development Perspective on Cooperative Culture, Knowledge Flow, and Innovation Network Governance Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-17, November.
    7. Ben Spigel, 2013. "Bourdieuian approaches to the geography of entrepreneurial cultures," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(9-10), pages 804-818, December.
    8. Yongsheng, Xiang & Xiaolei, Zhang & Wei, Wu, 2021. "Coupling or lock-in? Co-evolution of cultural embeddness and cluster innovation-exploratory case study of Shaoxing textile cluster," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    9. Evers, Hans-Dieter & Gerke, Solvay & Menkhoff, Thomas, 2010. "Knowledge Clusters and Knowledge Hubs: Designing Epistemic Landscapes for Development," MPRA Paper 33956, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 08 Oct 2011.
    10. Hossain, Mokter & Park, Sukyung & Shahid, Subhan, 2023. "Frugal innovation for sustainable rural development," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    11. Evers, Hans-Dieter, 2008. "Knowledge hubs and knowledge clusters: Designing a knowledge architecture for development," MPRA Paper 8778, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Vladyslav Soloviov, 2022. "Linking regional autonomy–embeddedness value orientation and innovation," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Regional culture; Embeddedness; Innovation; High-tech; Mormonism; Salt Lake City; Utah; Culture regionale; Ancrage; Innovation; Technopole; Mormonisme; Salt Lake City; Utah; Regionale Kultur; Eingebetttsein; Innovation; Hochtechnologie; Mormonentum; Salt Lake City; Utah; Cultura regional; Integracion; Innovacion; Alta tecnologia; Mormonismo; Salt Lake City; JEL classifications: L21; O31; P17; Z13;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L21 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Business Objectives of the Firm
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • P17 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Performance and Prospects
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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