This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Cortright, J. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Economic Importance of Being Different: Regional Variations in Tastes, Increasing Returns, and the Dynamics of Development

Impresa, Inc.

A region’s distinctive social and cultural characteristics, measured by the behaviors of its residents, represent an important source of knowledge and innovation that can drive economic development. It is well-known that many industries are localized—concentrated in specific geographic areas. Agglomeration economies, a special case of increasing returns in space, cause positive feedbacks that promote further concentration. Although often ascribed to chance, some of the events that trigger the formation of localizations appear to be related to the distinctive behaviors of a region. An examination of data on consumer behavior suggests that there are significant, nonrandom differences in behavior among regions. In the case of the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area, many of these behavioral differences are related to concentrations of local economic activity. Local tastes and preferences may be a source of the new knowledge and innovation that spawn industry agglomerations, a connection that has important implications for development policy.

Economic Development Quarterly, Vol. 16, No. 1, 3-16 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/0891242402016001001


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Bouvier Determinants of Environmental Performance: Pulp and Paper Mills, Regulations, and Community in Maine Economic Development Quarterly, May 1, 2009; 23(2): 111 - 126. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. Markusen and G. Schrock The Distinctive City: Divergent Patterns in Growth, Hierarchy and Specialisation Urban Stud, July 1, 2006; 43(8): 1301 - 1323. [Abstract] [PDF]