- The Role of New Technologies in Regional Economic Competition - A Case Study of German Regions   click here to open paper content22 kb
by    Spars, Guido & Fuerst, Franz & null, null | spars@gp.tu-berlin.de   click here to send an email to the auther(s) of this paper
Short Outline
The contribution will cover the following topics:
- Significance of CIT in enhancing economic competitiveness of a region
- Impact of CIT on different types of regions (metropolitan service centers, old-industrialized regions, rural regions)
- Potential of CIT to improve socio-economic conditions in the weakest and most peripheral regions
- Integration of CIT strategies into regional policy programs

Despite the number of previous studies on the impact of technology on regional development, a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of CIT on different types of economic and spatial settings is still not available. This study attempts to bridge the gap between previous theoretical considerations and current developments in German regions.

An investigation into the above mentioned research topics will be presented by applying different approaches of economic theory. Empirical testing in this field is frequently hampered by limited data availability. In order to circumvent these problems, prototypical regions are selected based on socio-economic and spatial criteria. By analyzing the case study regions, it will possible to test the central hypothesis outlined above and to develop recommendations for successful regional policies.

This presentation is derived from preliminary results of the research project ''Technological-Economic Structural Change, its Spatial Impact and Regional Adaptive Strategies'' commissioned by the German Ministry of Transportation, Construction and Housing. I am one of the partners in the consortium.
Abstract
This paper examines the impact of CIT on regional economic development and convergence of regions. CIT induce potential cost reductions and networking opportunities into the existing regional economic system . To materialize the potential benefits in the region it is crucial that inter-firm connectivity is high both horizontally and vertically. Consequently, regional policy has to address particularly connectivity and networking issues.
Keywords
CIT, Region, Stuttgart
Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2001: Honey, I Shrunk the Space
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