Regions and Cities in the Global Economy: course description
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Vladi Finotto, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia -
Lorenzo Gui, Venice International University
Globalization is changing the way in which economic activities are distributed both within countries and across the globe.
A new geography of production is emerging, with new areas of the world increasingly attracting high value-added production and services. Despite the fact that globalisation seems to reduce the importance of geographical proximity in business, region-specific advantages still remain a significant source of productivity gain even for the largest multinational enterprises.
The processes of global economic integration have been associated with accelerated urban growth. In this contexts growing metropolitan areas, more and more connected to international flows of information and immigration, are re-emerging as strategic hubs of economic activity. Around the world places are developing diverse, multidimensional ways to attract mobile and creative workers as well as mobile investment.
All these trends have important consequences for territorial governance. Looking for ways to help local firms access global markets, local political communities face different dilemmas regarding economic dynamism, quality of life and private sector actors participation in metro-regions' governance.
This course aims to provide an introduction to the context, theory and practice of local economic development policies, investigating the challenges and opportunities facing cities and regions in an increasingly "borderless world."
The objectives of the course are 1) to provide an introduction to globalization and to the concepts and strategies employed by territories in the pursuit of economic development; 2) to critically review alternative development policies and programs; 3) to reflect on the goals and objectives of local economic development efforts; 4) to examine the economic, political, and social context in which policy-makers operate; 5) to analyze the ways in which local communities, trough public policy, can interact with market forces to influence territorial development.
The course will be organized around different thematic areas, each developed through classes, lectures by guest scholars, and study trips.
There is a great deal of material relevant to the subject matter of this course, and students will be expected to do the required readings and to attend class on a regular basis. Required readings will be designated on a weekly basis according to the themes listed in the course outline. Students will be also encourage to find additional materials for their papers through searching the Internet and accessing suggested websites. Field trips for members of the class will be arranged.
A new geography of production is emerging, with new areas of the world increasingly attracting high value-added production and services. Despite the fact that globalisation seems to reduce the importance of geographical proximity in business, region-specific advantages still remain a significant source of productivity gain even for the largest multinational enterprises.
The processes of global economic integration have been associated with accelerated urban growth. In this contexts growing metropolitan areas, more and more connected to international flows of information and immigration, are re-emerging as strategic hubs of economic activity. Around the world places are developing diverse, multidimensional ways to attract mobile and creative workers as well as mobile investment.
All these trends have important consequences for territorial governance. Looking for ways to help local firms access global markets, local political communities face different dilemmas regarding economic dynamism, quality of life and private sector actors participation in metro-regions' governance.
This course aims to provide an introduction to the context, theory and practice of local economic development policies, investigating the challenges and opportunities facing cities and regions in an increasingly "borderless world."
The objectives of the course are 1) to provide an introduction to globalization and to the concepts and strategies employed by territories in the pursuit of economic development; 2) to critically review alternative development policies and programs; 3) to reflect on the goals and objectives of local economic development efforts; 4) to examine the economic, political, and social context in which policy-makers operate; 5) to analyze the ways in which local communities, trough public policy, can interact with market forces to influence territorial development.
The course will be organized around different thematic areas, each developed through classes, lectures by guest scholars, and study trips.
There is a great deal of material relevant to the subject matter of this course, and students will be expected to do the required readings and to attend class on a regular basis. Required readings will be designated on a weekly basis according to the themes listed in the course outline. Students will be also encourage to find additional materials for their papers through searching the Internet and accessing suggested websites. Field trips for members of the class will be arranged.
