The Governance of Innovation Spaces: How Civic Capital and Collaborative Shape Urban Regional Development

The Governance of Innovation Spaces explores why some cities and regions thrive while others get left behind in today’s changing global economy. In the face of rapid digital transformation and climate change, David A. Wolfe argues that the capacity of cities and regions to manage this transition depends on the strength of their governance institutions and the ability to craft collaborative policy approaches. Chapters systematically compare and contrast regional economic development schemes across Europe and North America, focusing on ‘civic capital’: the networks, collaborative organizations and entrepreneurial leaders that help regions identify their unique strengths and chart new economic paths. The book emphasizes how effective local governance, strong universities and place-based development policies enable cities and regions to adapt to disruption and build innovative economies. Wolfe highlights the importance of local collaboration and institution-building for inclusive economic development that can benefit all cities and regions. Scholars and students of economic geography, regional development and innovation studies will benefit from this book’s in-depth and expansive approach. It is also a crucial resource for academics and practitioners of governance theories and industrial policy.