The knowledge competitiveness of regional economies: conceptualisation and measurement

Robert Huggins, Hiro Izushi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Whereas the competitive advantage of firms can arise from size and position within their industry as well as physical assets, the pattern of competition in advanced economies has increasingly come to favour those firms that can mobilise knowledge and technological skills to create novelty in their products. At the same time, regions are attracting growing attention as an economic unit of analysis, with firms increasingly locating their functions in select regions within the global space. This article introduces the concept of knowledge competitiveness, defined as an economy’s knowledge capacity, capability and sustainability, and the extent to which this knowledge is translated into economic value and transferred into the wealth of the citizens. The article discusses the way in which the knowledge competitiveness of regions is measured and further introduces the World Knowledge Competitiveness Index, which is the first composite and relative measure of the knowledge competitiveness of the globe’s best performing regions.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-24
Number of pages24
JournalBank of Valletta Review
Volume35
Issue numberSpring
Publication statusPublished - 2007

Keywords

  • competitive advantage
  • firms
  • industry
  • physical assets
  • advanced economies
  • mobilise knowledge
  • technological skills
  • novelty products

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