Turbulence characterises the current global scene. This book uses complementary theoretical approaches to understand and help prescribe policies to ‘reframe’ the regional development problem in turbulent times. These are: evolutionary complexity; evolutionary economic geography; emergence theory; and resilience theory. From below, they address the four major crises creating a ‘perfect storm’ for societies and economics involving: the climate change crisis; the energy crisis; the banking and financial crisis; and the global economic crisis.

This book analyses and proposes ways in which regional economies, in particular, are having to be ‘reframed’ to address these crises. First, many must evolve in new ways, possibly moving back from the ‘service economy’ towards a new, greener form of manufacturing of goods as well as services. Accordingly, regional economies are innovating in new ways. Amongst these are the quest for ‘relatedness’ within their own regional orbits, and promoting ‘modularity’ as a mode of analysis and a policy stance to stimulate innovation across industry and geographical borders.

Finally, regional economies and societies are discovering that, from a ‘resilience’ perspective, they must find answers to the higher levels of governance with which they increasingly struggle. In this respect regional economies are in ‘transition’ and regional processes are ‘emergent’. The transition seeks to address the four crises, involving re-balancing, re-directing and re-framing future policy and practice. This book describes many of the novel ‘framings’ involved in understanding the new ways in which this major task is being addressed in theory, policy and everyday practice.

Over the past decade the 'cluster model' has been seized on as a tool for promoting competitiveness, innovation and growth on local, regional and national scales. However, despite its popularity there is much about it that is problematic, and in some respects the rush to employ 'cluster ideas' has run ahead of many fundamental conceptual, theoretical and empirical questions. As such, there is a need for a more thorough theoretical and empirical evaluation of the notion.
This book fulfills that need, assessing the cluster notion and drawing out not only its undoubted strengths and attractions, but also its weaknesses and limitations. The editors have brought together a number of leading scholars who address key questions: How do we define and identify clusters? What is meant by 'cluster theory? What are the benefits of clusters? What are their disadvantages? How do clusters evolve? Do clusters improve regional innovativeness and competitiveness, and if so, in what ways? How do clusters relate to the globaleconomy? What are the limits of the cluster concept? What policy options are available to promote clusters?
This critical examination of the Clusters concept will be important reading for economic geographers, economists, planners and policy makers.