THE ROLE OF INNOVATION IN COMPETITIVENESS AND CONVERGENCE PROCESS: A BENCHMARKING STUDY FOR EUROPEAN REGIONS

George M. Korres () and Aikaterini Kokkinou ()
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George M. Korres: University of Newcastle, Centre of Urban and Regional Development Studies, CURDS, Newcastle, United Kingdom, University of Aegean, Department of Geography

Regional Science Inquiry, 2011, vol. III, issue 2, 123-133

Abstract: Globalization and competition has shifted the comparative advantage of economies towards the factor of knowledge and innovation, where productivity based on the endogenous development capabilities plays a rather important role, as far as growth and competitiveness enhancement are concerned. In order to promote innovation activities and technological opportunities, productivity enhancement seems to have significant effects on the long run performance of the economy. Within this framework, the enhancement and convergence of growth and productivity are a major topic in the economic and social policy agenda of E.U. members, since governments seek to concentrate on problems not only related to low employment growth, high unemployment, fiscal deficits and public debt, but also to national disparities and convergence attainment. This paper aims to review the main topics related to innovation activities, as well as competitiveness and economic convergence attainment. It also attempts to analyze, using a benchmarking approach, the effects of innovation activities, in order to clarify the related implications on regional convergence process.

Keywords: Innovation; Research and Development; Regional Convergence; Regional Growth; Disparities; Development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C21 O18 R11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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