Technology and Regional Development: A Survey

Abstract

This paper reviews the literature on the role of technology and technological change in regional development. Three specific themes are identified. First, traditional approaches to technology include those found in models of regional growth, in analyses of innovation diffusion, and in economic analysis of technological change. Second, recent research on regional development has involved technology from two perspectives—that of regional economic structure and that of innovation in the strategies and management of large corporations. Third, the underdevelopment of Third World countries has been attributed in part to technological dependence. The possibilities are abundant for research that would add to current understanding of regional development in an age of rapid technological change.

Geographical variations in telecommunications systems: the implications for location of activities

“…Less evidence is available on the spatial differences in the flow of information through telecommunications networks, although such variations are an obvious outcome of the uneven geographical distribution of information production and consumption (e.g., Malecki 1983). The lack of research of this aspect is partially explained by the fact that communications origin-destination data is, at least in the US, considered proprietary information (Abler 1986).…”

Clustering Dynamics and the Location of High-Tech-Firms

“…Finally the reader interested in spatial externalities, industrial spillovers and their relations to the process of regional development can see Jaffe (1989), Jaffe et al (1993), Malecki (1983Malecki ( ,1986Malecki ( and 1991, Malecki and Varaiya (1986), Henderson (1994 Weber's theory is based upon three main assumptions. First, the geographical basis of material inputs is given; second, the situation and size of places of consumption are given (so to imply conditions of perfect competition for all producers); third, there are several fixed labour locations with labour immobile and in unlimited supply at fixed wage rates3.…”

New Technology and Regional Development

“…For instance, in recent years it has often been claimed that large metropolises are loosing part of their innovative potential with regard to large firms in favour to medium-size cities (see Malecki, 1983). In the light of the uneven geographical distribution of the new technology sector, it may be an important research objective to identify the economie motives for locational behaviour in the new technology sector.…”