Location Decision Making of “Creative” Industries: The Media and Computer Game Sectors in Dublin,Ireland

There has been significant research undertaken examining the “creative class” thesis within the context of the locational preferences of creative workers. However, relatively little attention has been given to the locational preferences of creative companies within the same context. This paper reports on research conducted to qualitatively analyse the location decision making of companies in two creative sectors: media and computer games. We address the role of the so‐called “hard” and “soft” factors in company location decision making within the context of the creative class thesis, which suggests that company location is primarily determined by “soft” factors rather than “hard” factors. The study focuses upon “core” creative industries in the media and computer game sectors and utilises interview data with company managers and key elite actors in the sector to investigate the foregoing questions. The results show that “hard” factors are of primary importance for the location decision making in the sectors analysed, but that “soft” factors play quite an important role when “hard” factors are satisfactory in more than one competing city‐region.     

Design,National Imaginaries,and the Home Furnishings Commodity Chain

ABSTRACT This paper introduces the concept of national imaginaries as a means of foregrounding the continuing influence of ideas about the nation on understandings of commodity production and circulation. National imaginaries are of crucial importance to the home furnishings commodity network, flowing across sites of consumption, retailing, design, and production. Drawing upon the findings of a larger cross‐national research project, the paper discusses three cases in which the characterisation of distinctive national design identities was particularly prominent. These include the representation of designers in the UK and Canada as “national heroes,” and the tendency to measure British and Canadian design against a third national imaginary: that of Italy. A final case considers discursive constructions of national economic trajectories—of “success” or “failure”—within accounts of the British and Canadian furniture industries. It is argued that future work on the differentiating advantages, which may accrue to creative or cultural industries in particular localities, also should be attentive to the ways in which the place of the nation is used to construct imaginative geographies.     

Who leads regional industrial dynamics? “New industry creators” in Chinese regions

Recent evolutionary economic geography studies have argued that regional diversification emerges as a path‐dependent process, as regions often branch into industries that are related to its industrial structure. However, it is less clear who are creating new industries and under what regional conditions. This research seeks to fill this gap and identify “new industry creators” in regional industrial diversification. We differentiate two types of new industry formation—path‐breaking and path‐dependent—and examine whether some new industry creators are more path‐breaking than others, by incorporating two factors that have been largely overlooked in recent literature on technological relatedness—firm heterogeneity and regional institutions. Based on a firm‐level data set of China’s manufacturing industries, this paper shows that path‐breaking and path‐dependence coexist. Empirical results confirm that firm heterogeneity and regional institutions not only affect the firms’ capabilities in creating new industries, but also encourage/discourage firms to be adventurous and path‐breaking. This research implies that lagging regions can catch up with developed regions by coordinating regional resources and adjusting local institutional arrangements to attract more path‐breaking firms.     

四川什邡“稻-蒜-烟”粮经复合种植模式经济效益分析

为了探讨“稻-蒜-烟”粮经复合种植新模式经济效益,对新模式、传统“稻-烟”和“稻-蒜”模式进行了成本收益分析和经济可行性分析。结果表明：一年三熟制“稻-蒜-烟”模式较传统“稻-烟”和“稻-蒜”模式,复种指数增加了60%,其总产值分别提高了55740.4 元/hm2和40644.5 元/hm2;土地净产率分别提高了45144.0 元/hm2和43661.9 元/hm2;活化劳动净产率较传统“稻-蒜”模式降低24.22%,但比“稻-烟”模式提高了34.94%;物化劳动净产率分别提高了17.39%和27.22%;新增纯收益率分别到达了16.38%和25.76%;边际成本收益率则分别达到了3.14 和1.55。“稻-蒜-烟”新模式有利于提高资源利用率,增加农民收益,因此有一定的推广应用价值。     

川东北旱地马铃薯多熟高效种植新模式效益分析

为丰富川东北旱地马铃薯多熟高效种植模式及提高旱地种植效益,以传统“小麦/玉米/甘薯”模式为对照,在川东北丘陵区旱地设置“春马铃薯/玉米/甘薯”和“小麦+冬马铃薯/玉米/甘薯”2种新模式,观测其周年原粮产量和经济效益。结果表明,在2年平均值上,“春马铃薯/玉米/甘薯”模式的原粮产量与对照差异不显著,但其总产值和纯收益均显著高于对照,分别较对照高52.16%和53.25%,且其劳动净产率比对照高14.85%;而“小麦+冬马铃薯/玉米/甘薯”模式的原粮产量和总产值均显著高于对照,但其纯收益和劳动净产率分别较对照低20.32%和17.07%。2个新模式的物质费用收益率和成本收益率均低于对照。综合比较,“春马铃薯/玉米/甘薯”模式可作为传统“小麦/玉米/甘薯”模式的替代方案进行推广应用。     

Regional Growth Dynamics in the Service Sector: The Determinants of Employment Change in UK Regions, 1971–2005

There is a need to better understand the dynamics relating to the evolving economic structure of regions, in particular factors concerning deindustrialisation and the growth of services. In order to unpick the dynamics relating to contemporary regional evolution, this paper examines regional employment in the UK's services sectors from 1971 to 2005. The analysis utilises the statistical technique of multi‐factor partitioning to examine the evolutionary dynamics of employment change in the UK service sector. Overall, differing growth trajectories in services employment across regions appear to be the result of the different underlying industrial structures observed within the regions themselves. The findings indicate that the industrial structure of a region has a significant influence on employment change in services, with related variety being of greater consequence than specialisation. This suggests that diversity, or urbanisation, effects have a greater influence than specialisation effects on “lighter” industries than “heavier” industries. Spatio‐temporal variations within the development of services are evident in the analysis, and there is evidence of convergence across the regions for all sub‐sectors examined. It concludes that in an increasingly services‐dominated economy, diversity and related variety have some weight in explaining regional development paths.     

Institutional context and place-based policy: The case of Coventry & Warwickshire

A key problem of downscaling or transferring policies across regions is embedding these policies into a place for them to unleash the full potential of regional economies. This paper elaborates on the analytical framework of “institutional context” to bridge the gap between rich theorizations and poor empirical capture of institutions in studies of regional development. The institutional context is constituted by three pillars—regulations, organizations, and institutions—as well as by the interrelations between these pillars. Applied to the British region of Coventry and Warwickshire, a qualitative analysis of expert interviews finds institutional patterns of short-termism, moderate levels of social capital and an embryonic relational infrastructure to constrain the place-based strategy for industrial diversification. This regional case illustrates the more general challenge for regional policy in the UK of devising place-based strategies under conditions of continuous rescaling of regional governance and the implementation of a new National Industrial Strategy. In conclusion, the analysis suggests a shift from “nodal” to “linking” policies that support cross-network connections and help grow a regional field for collective action to cross-fertilize knowledge and foster innovation and entrepreneurship in emerging industries.     

Growth and Location of Economic Activity: The Spatial Dynamics of Industries in Canada 1971–2001

ABSTRACT A growing literature has accumulated that points to the stability of industrial location patterns. Can this be reconciled with spatial dynamics? This article starts with the premise that demonstrable regularities exist in the manner in which individual industries locate (and relocate) over space. For Canada, spatial distributions of employment are examined for seventy‐one industries over a thirty‐year period (1971–2001). Industry data is organized by “synthetic regions” based on urban size and distance criteria. “Typical” location patterns are identified for industry groupings. Industrial spatial concentrations are then compared over time using correlation analysis, showing a high degree of stability. Stable industrial location patterns are not, the article finds, incompatible with differential regional growth. Five spatial processes are identified, driving change. The chief driving force is the propensity of dynamic industries to start up in large metro areas, setting off a process of diffusion (for services) and crowding out (for manufacturing), offset by the centralizing impact of greater consumer mobility and falling transport costs. These changes do not, however, significantly alter the relative spatial distribution of most industries over time.     

Cultural Commodity Chains,Cultural Clusters,or Cultural Production Chains?

ABSTRACT The paper begins with a discussion of the definition of cultural industries. The paper's three main themes are concerned with, first: 1) a contestation of the generic application of the global commodity chain concept, 2) the need for a unique focus on cultural industries associated with the particular nature of its production process, and 3) the role of embedded judgments of quality is an integral part of this process. Second, the paper suggests that a restyled focus on production chains (involving the full cycle of production to use) might be more appropriate than “commodity chains” for this application. Finally, issues of spatiality and scale are discussed: it is argued that although global commodity chain debates explore linkages at a regional and national scale, they downplay linkages at the local level.     

Exploring the recent upsurge in productivity disparities among European regions

This paper analyses thse evolution of productivity disparities across 156 European regions in the period 2000–2015. Using regional data, a battery of inequality indexes enables us to assess the extent of regional disparities. After confirming that labour productivity is the main component of income disparities, a dynamic shift-share analysis is carried out at a 10-industry level of disaggregation. The study evaluates the relative role of the three components underlying the disparities in regional productivity: changes in the industry mix, and within- and between-industry productivity gaps. The main results can be summarised as follows. First, regional disparities are on the rise again in the EU. Second, most regions are now closer to the average, while a small group of the richest regions are moving further away. Third, the main drivers of productivity disparities are within-industry differences in labour productivity with regard to the richest regions and, less importantly, the specialisation of the richest regions in more progressive industries. Finally, the net effect of structural change is still making a positive contribution to convergence with the leading regions.     

Growth‐Oriented Small Firms and the Nature and Extent of Local Embeddedness: The Case of a Traditional Metalworking Cluster

ABSTRACT Clusters now form a central element in many regional economic development policies. Location within a cluster of related industries is thought to increase a firm's competitive advantage resulting in higher output and productivity growth rates than in similar firms located beyond the cluster. This study focuses on owner‐managers operating small firms within a traditional cluster of metalworking industries and empirically examines the relationship between growth‐orientation and the extent and nature of cluster embeddedness. The results indicate only a limited number of differences in growth‐orientation given variations in levels of cluster embeddedness. Contrary to conventional wisdom, many of the most growth‐oriented entrepreneurs focus their activities outside the cluster, especially in terms of market‐based linkages. However, those firms with more advanced process technologies do tend to show above average within cluster linkages.     

Innovation strategies for smart specialisation (RIS3): Past,present and future research

The recent change in the regional development strategy of the European Union (EU) results in an important need to study the terms of change and their respective implications. This study seeks, through a bibliometric analysis, to ascertain the developments taking place in studies on research and innovation strategies for smart specialisation (RIS3) to identify shortcomings and opportunities for future research. This bibliometric review drew upon the Scopus database with the sample selected containing all the articles containing the keywords “Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation” or “RIS3.” This correspondingly reports how some authors maintain that the path the EU should take involves imitative innovation. Meanwhile, others propose that each region should specialise in those industries that are already established there and thus avoid targeting any areas they do not already know/specialise in. Our findings detail six clusters in RIS3 research, which help in contextualising the literature review: (a) business discovery; (b) smart specialisation; (c) innovation; (d) specialisation; (e) regional policies; and (f) regional development. This study furthermore sets out perspectives for future lines of research and correspondingly seeks to convey a vast theoretical basis that may serve as the point of departure for future studies.     

Technology Search and Firm Bounds in Biotechnology: New Firms as Agents of Change

Schumpeterian perspectives on industrial change suggest a relationship between new firms and the regionally specific technological bases for innovation. However, the links between such firms and the knowledge bases for innovation are more implicit than explicit. The innovation process in new firms reflects both the capabilities found within the firm as well as information sourcing from without. This paper seeks to articulate the nature of change in relationships between firms in science-based industries and the technological infrastructure accessed to support innovation, as such industries mature out of the birth phase. Innovation is treated as decision making, identifying the firm as innovator and agent of change. Survey research suggests that a shift in the sourcing of information, and an associated shift in the character of information accessed, occurred with maturation in the study industry, comprised of biotechnology firms in the U.S. “Early” and “later” forming firms show somewhat different technology sourcing patterns. Interviews were conducted to help interpret these findings. Implications for industry development are suggested.     

Reflections on the “Old” Economy, “New” Economy,and Services

ABSTRACT Economic competitiveness now has less to do with new materials than with new ways of producing, utilizing, and combining diverse knowledges. It is branded as symptomatic of a “new” economy and is often juxtaposed against the “old” economy. As accelerating technological change has greatly increased the volume and quality of the information available to organizations, to firms, and to individual employees, it is asserted that the economy has become more “new” than “old.” But this is predicated on the assumption that there is a “new” economy and that it is somehow distinguishable from the “old.” This paper explores the basis for this dichotomy and whether it really adds anything to understanding contemporary economies and their ongoing development. It will be argued that it is more useful and constructive to examine the economy through a lens dominated by service industries that are now the key drivers of change (innovation, competition, employment) and development. The paper is concluded with a discussion of some items that could usefully be part of an agenda for further research by economic geographers on the evolving spatial and structural attributes of service work and organizations and their impact on cities or regions at different scales of analysis.     

Natural Amenities and Rural Development: Understanding Spatial and Distributional Attributes

ABSTRACT Contemporary resource management practice and rural development planning increasingly emphasize the integration of resource extractive industries with non‐market‐based recreational and amenity values. There is a growing empirical literature which suggests that natural amenities impact regional economies through aggregate measures of economic performance such as population, income, and/or employment growth, and housing development. We maintain that assessing the developmental aspects of amenity‐led regional change requires a more thorough focus on alternative measures of economic performance such as income distribution and spatial organization. In the applied research presented here we investigate relationships between amenities and regional economic development indicators. Results suggest mixed and generally insignificant amenity‐based associations which highlight the need for appropriate regional economic modeling techniques that account for often dramatic spatial autocorrelation of natural amenity attributes. We conclude that with respect to amenity driven economic growth and development “place in space” matters.     

糯玉米新品种“银糯一号”的选育

“银糯一号”是北京农学院生物技术系于2000年是以XN-5自交系为母本，BN51自交系为父本杂交而成的糯玉米杂交种。该品种经2000~2001年的测交试验，2002~2003年的产比试验，2004-2005年的北京市区域试验，皆比对照“中糯一号”增产30.8%（鲜穗）和20.7%（鲜粒）以上，大面积生产鲜穗产量达10800kg/公顷以上。在2006年3月北京市农作物品种审定委员会审定通过(京审玉2006008)。     

Local Industry Agglomeration and New Business Activity

New businesses are highly involved in innovative activity, which enhances worker productivity and leads to increased economic output. This paper investigates the effects of industry concentration on the incidence of new business openings in the 5,504 Maine county‐industries. Empirical findings indicate that new business activity increases with the number of incumbent establishments in a county‐industry and its concentration level relative to the U.S. economy. Model simulations show that raising county‐industries, with no initial industry presence, to concentration levels similar to that of the industry in the U.S. economy results in a 1.7 to 8.9 percent increase in the expected number of business openings over a three‐year period. Empirical results also suggest that industry clusters comprised of young and small establishments are more conducive to new business formation than clusters made up of mature and large companies.     

一种水肥气高效耦合灌溉系统的设计与试验研究

本研究旨在解决传统灌溉农业的“水氧矛盾”和根系的“向水追氧”两大农业难题,应用现代水肥耦合和增氧灌溉技术,设计了一种水肥气高效耦合灌溉系统。通过应用灌溉系统对水稻、黄瓜等作物的栽培试验证明：相比于常规灌溉方式,水、肥、气耦合灌溉能促进作物根系生长和提高根系活力,使其能最大限度地从土壤中吸收水分和养分,进一步挖掘和提高作物自身生产力,提高水肥利用效率,增产提质,同时也为从根源上缓解农业面源污染提供一种新途径。     

创意农业的概念、特征及类型

世界创意产业的兴起也促进了中国创意产业的发展,创意农业是创意产业的重要组成部分;在参照创意产业概念的基础上,结合农业的特点,研究提出了创意农业的概念,并阐述了创意农业的属性、所具有的四个显著特征;根据创意农业的内容,将其划分为规划设计型、废弃物利用型、用途转化型和文化开发型等四个类型;从研究和制订创意农业发展规划、定期举办中国农业创意大赛和出台相关鼓励政策等方面提出了中国发展创意农业的对策建议。     

创意农业的概念与创意途径分析

文化创意产业是在全球刚刚兴起的新兴行业,正逐渐成为世界经济新的增长点之一。现代农业与到文化创意产业的融合,便产生了创意农业。本文提出了创意农业的概念,并阐述了创意农业的属性与特征,提出了进行农业创意的四种途径,即科技创意、文化创意、服务创意和生态创意。