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Innovation and Regional Technological Convergence

Theory and Evidence

Authors: Tomasz Kijek, Arkadiusz Kijek, Anna Matras-Bolibok

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Book Series : SpringerBriefs in Regional Science

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Table of Contents

About this book

This open access book explores the role of innovation in technological convergence processes in the EU regional space and shifts the focus from absolute and conditional income convergence to technological convergence and its determinants. Presenting new theoretical and empirical evidence on the determinants and trajectory of the EU region’s development and convergence, this book will appeal to scholars of economics and regional science, as well as practitioners and policymakers interested in the policy implications of regional technological convergence. The presented findings will also contribute to the development of the knowledge-based economy paradigm in the regional context.

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Table of Contents

Frontmatter

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Chapter 1. Introduction

Abstract

The concept of income convergence has drawn the attention of many economists involved in the growth debate (Alataş, 2021). Recent theories of growth and empirical studies suggest that heterogeneity with respect to technological conditions in general and total factor productivity—TFP in particular are identified as the most decisive factors for the rate of income convergence of countries (Islam, 2003). Apparently, depending on whether initial TFP differences decrease or increase over time, income convergence or divergence may be a matter of fact. This has directed researchers’ attention to the concept of technological (TFP) convergence.

Tomasz Kijek, Arkadiusz Kijek, Anna Matras-Bolibok

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Chapter 2. Innovation and Regional Development

Abstract

Innovation is considered to be highly localized process. It does not appear in space uniformly, but is predominantly spatially concentrated (Crevoisier, 2004). A number of diverse theoretical and empirical frameworks have been developed to analyze spatial dimension of innovation. The theoretical approach to the relationship between innovation and local spaces was initially demonstrated in the concepts of ‘new industrial districts’ and ‘innovative milieu’. The first of them, inspired by the Marshall’s industrial district, was introduced by Becattini (Sforzi, 2015) to emphasize the dynamic linkages between the socio-cultural features of a productive community and the rate of growth of both its productivity and innovativeness (Becattini, 2002). Many theoretical considerations and empirical contributions reveal the impact of belonging to industrial districts on innovation performance (Boix et al., 2018; Boix-Domenech et al., 2019; Cainelli, 2008; Cainelli & De Liso, 2005; Muscio, 2006; Parra-Requena et al., 2020). The existence of dynamic efficiency in industrial districts in the form of positive innovation differentials with regard to the economy average, assigned to the existence of Marshallian external economies (economies of localization) is described by Boix and Galletto (2009) as an ‘I-district effect’.

Tomasz Kijek, Arkadiusz Kijek, Anna Matras-Bolibok

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Chapter 3. Regional Technological Convergence: Patterns and Determinants

Abstract

The convergence process is generally regarded as the implication of neoclassical growth theory (Solow, 1956). The assumption of diminishing returns to reproducible capital leads to convergence across countries and regions. Units with relatively lower initial capital to labour ratios experience technology transfers and capital flows from those with higher ratios. As a consequence, the income level converges across countries and regions.

Tomasz Kijek, Arkadiusz Kijek, Anna Matras-Bolibok

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Chapter 4. Empirical Analysis of Technological Convergence in the European Regional Area

Abstract

The data necessary to compute TFP over 2008–2018 have been retrieved from the Annual Regional Database of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (ARDECO). We use GDP at constant prices as the output variable. The input variables include employment in thousand hours worked and the stock of physical capital. The former is calculated in line with the perpetual inventory method:

Tomasz Kijek, Arkadiusz Kijek, Anna Matras-Bolibok

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Chapter 5. Conclusions

Abstract

This book tries to make new contributions to the current research on the link between innovation and technological convergence in the European regions. From the theoretical perspective, an attempt is made to provide a detailed view of the issue of catching-up and speeding-up effects of innovation activities in the technology race of regions by considering various conceptual approaches rooted in R&D-based endogenous growth theory, technology gap theory and innovation geography. As far as the methodological aspect of the research is concerned, the multi-faceted approach to testing TFP convergence in the sample of 219 European regions in the period 2008–2018 is applied.

Tomasz Kijek, Arkadiusz Kijek, Anna Matras-Bolibok

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Title: Innovation and Regional Technological Convergence
Authors: Tomasz Kijek
Arkadiusz Kijek
Anna Matras-Bolibok
Copyright Year: 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-031-24531-2
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-24530-5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24531-2