An Introduction to Place-Based Development Economics and Policy

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

   PDF

2. Spatially-Blind Versus Place-Based Policies

   • Gilberto Seravalli

   Pages 1-23

3. The Spatial Perspective

   • Gilberto Seravalli

   Pages 25-74

4. Institutions, Agency and Path Dependency

   • Gilberto Seravalli

   Pages 75-97

5. Under Valorized Areas

   • Gilberto Seravalli

   Pages 99-124

6. Dealing with Uncertainty

   • Gilberto Seravalli

   Pages 125-144

This book introduces the reader to local development economics and policy, with a special focus on the place-based paradigm that covers its justification, its difficulties and the types of public intervention that it suggests. The starting point for the analysis is that economic development in lagging places is not to be expected as the result of a mechanism of automatic convergence between backward and advanced regions and that, therefore, the most appropriate development policy is not to maximize competition among all agents in all sectors and places. The failure of the Washington Consensus is examined, and the two competing positions to have emerged from this failure – spatially blind interventions and place-based policies – are contrasted. The main shortcoming of spatially blind policies, namely that immobile resources that could trigger or support a development process often remain untapped or “trapped”, is emphasized. The limitations of the “big push” state intervention and wage flexibility solutions to this trap are analyzed and the merits of place-based policies that support intervention and can deal with uncertainty, risk and conflict are discussed.

• European cohesion policy
• Evolutionary economic geography
• Natural and cultural resources
• New economic geography
• Place-based policies
• Regional development strategies
• Spatially blind policies
• Underdevelopment traps
• Washington Consensus

• Gran Sasso Science Institute, L'Aquila, Italy

  Gilberto Seravalli

Gilberto Seravalli was Full Professor of Development Economics at Parma University (Italy) until his retirement and he also taught at the University of California (Berkeley, United States) and directed the “Fondazione Nitti” residential school of advanced studies in development policies. Prof. Seravalli is a member of the PhD in Urban Studies Committee at GSSI – Gran Sasso Science Institute (Italy). He has published many books and articles on economic development, spatial economics and innovation.

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