The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, launched on 27 April, contains a wealth of practical case studies and examples that span the globe.
The Handbook highlights France as a leader in managed industrial transitions, innovation-led development, and social policies. Case study highlights include:
๐๐๐ผ๐ป’๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ-๐น๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ prioritises ecological transition, social cohesion, and green technology positioning to lead Europe toward sustainable economies. It deliberately differentiates the city through liveable, sustainable, and innovative urbanism rather than attempting to compete directly on raw scale with larger capital cities. Lyon is a great example of how distinct local economic rationales and strategies can be built around specific territorial advantages and sustainability goals.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ด๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ต๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฐ๐น๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ that’s built from leveraging specific geographical advantages alongside generations of specialized knowledge to generate substantial economic impact. It exhibits tight vertical integration where networks of estates, nurseries, laboratories, and cooperages share knowledge informally. It serves as an example of how natural resource endowments and historical development paths cultivate highly specialized, resilient geographic clusters.
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ is another cluster example. Paris’s globally dominant fashion industry employs 154,000 people and generates tens of billions of euros in annual revenues. The high density of specialized fabric suppliers, pattern makers, and sample rooms enables rapid prototyping, allowing designs to move from concept to sample within 48 hours.
๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒโ๐ ๐ฃ๐ผฬ๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒฬ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒฬ (๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐น๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐) foster localised collaboration on strategic technological themes between private businesses, public research laboratories, and higher education institutions. The framework integrates funding for collaborative R&D alongside structural programs such as Territoires d’Industrie to revitalize regional industrial heartlands facing transition challenges.
I recently discussed the Handbook with Dane Carlson at the EconDevShow here – https://lnkd.in/ezJPWaaf
Get your copy of the Handbook at https://lnkd.in/eiMmH-3G
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