Regional structural policies and industrial evolution: evidence from three European case study regions
Chapter 13, "Regional structural policies and industrial evolution: evidence from three European case study regions" (Klaus S. Friesenbichler) addresses the question of why some less-favoured regions escaped their structural problems, while others did not. It provides case study evidence on three EU regions that have faced structural challenges at some point in recent history: Styria in Austria, Bucharest Ilfov in Romania and Valencia in Spain. Both regional economic policies and the evolution of the industry structures are discussed against an evolutionary economics background, focusing on path dependence, diversification processes and human capital formation. The findings suggest a series of conclusions for smart specialisation policies aimed at escaping structural lock-ins.