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This article attempts to explain the resilience and international competitiveness of a micro-region in Portugal, based on three intertwined levels – firm, industrial structure and region. The study covers the period 2006–2014 and is based upon a rich micro-level dataset of all firms established in Portugal. The findings reveal the dynamics of the industrial base of this region and how its enterprises managed to remain competitive over time, reinventing themselves through innovation and related diversification, conveying knowledge and expertise from incumbent businesses to new ones with higher value added. Proximity between firms played an important role in learning processes, and knowledge creation was promoted by shared knowledge. Competitiveness requires ongoing replacement of resources and rejuvenation of structures and institutions, turning regional capabilities into valuable assets.

Energy literacy is a concept which is not widely known by the public; however, it has captured the attention of several researchers in recent years. Concerning the assessment of energy and financial knowledge and people’s attitudes, intentions and behavior, it provides a global view of people’s knowledge, feelings, concerns and habits related to energy usage. Since energy is such an important resource in our daily lives, we can hardly imagine living without it. Moreover, considering that its production often requires the use of limited resources and leads to the worsening of already existing environmental problems, finding ways to alert consumers to the efficient management of their consumption is an urgent need. Therefore, in this article, we aimed to evaluate energy literacy levels, considering all the dimensions mentioned above, and search for the determinants of these levels. As an added novelty, we also aimed to determine the role of financial knowledge on energy literacy dimensions. After distributing a questionnaire to the university community in Portugal, we found good levels of energy literacy, despite moderate levels of energy and financial knowledge. Gender seems to be a determinant of all energy literacy dimensions, and financial knowledge has a positive and significant impact on energy knowledge.

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