Cultivating Grass-Roots for Regional Development in a Globalising Economy: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Organised Markets / Edition 1

by James Cécora

Overview

First published in 1999. The key to successful regional development is more a personality issue than a global one, contends social economist Dr. James Cécora. With a fresh new interdisciplinary approach, Cécora tackles traditional economic theory to show that a distinct type of individual, the 'innovative entrepreneur', can do more to secure economic stability in a particular region than any multinational corporation. Arguing that global economics have spiraled out of control, Cécora builds a case for supporting and promoting the development of entrepreneurs at the local and regional level. These individuals will, he says, work at strengthening the regional economy over the long term because of their permanent attachment to a region, as well as in vested self-interest. Cécora compares the personalities of corporate managers to self-starting entrepreneurs, drawing the conclusion that the risk-taking ability of entrepreneurial types prompts more creative thinking and regionally appropriate action and solutions. This willingness to try new approaches is often a key to success.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138612297
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/30/2020
Series:	Routledge Revivals
Pages:	158
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.62(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

About the Author vii

Introduction ix

1 Goals and Policies for Regional Development: A Critical View from the Grass-Roots 1

Encouraging 'Spontaneous Combustion' of Entrepreneurship 1

Personal Factors in Self-Employment and Enterprising 7

General Concepts in Regional Economics and Development Policy 9

Current Role of the State 14

2 The Global Economy: The Sea on Which National and Regional Economies Sail 23

Facts and Figures Illustrating the Rapidity of Globalisation 25

Consequences for National, Regional, and Rural Economic Policy-Making 27

Differentiating Target Groups as Agents of Regional Development 37

3 Behavioural Dynamics at the Grass-Root Level: Innovation and Entrepreneurship as Functions of Personality, Social Structures and Cultural Configurations 48

Genesis of Enterprise and Innovation 49

Defining 'Entrepreneurs' (and 'Innovators') by Traits 51

Defining 'Entrepreneurs' (and 'Innovators') by Functions 52

Recognising Effects of Social Structures 54

Recognising Effects of Culture 56

4 Individual Actors: Personal Factors in Innovative Behaviour and Enterprise 60

Personality: Traits, Functions, Motives, and Dispositions to Act of 'Entrepreneurs', 'Innovators', and 'Adopters' 60

The Family Household and Socialisation of Individuals 65

The Individual's Role, Identity, Values and Attitudes as Behavioural Determinants 68

5 Contexts: Socio-Cultural Embeddedness and Its Implications for, Opportunities for and Constraints on Innovative Behaviour and Enterprise 73

Socio-Structural Features of 'Innovative Environments' 75

Cultural Configurations and Patterns of Behaviour 78

Cultural Specificities in Awareness and Use of Time as an Example 81

Culture - A Force of Social Cohesion, but also of Exclusion 85

Differentiating Between Cultures and Nations 86

Cultural Impacts on Organisations, Innovation, and Enterprise 88

Power Structures 92

Social Networks and Peer Groups 95

Communication and Information Flow 103

6 Summary and Conclusions 112

Bibliography 123

Editorial Reviews

’...builds a case for supporting and promoting the development of entrepreneurs at local and regional level.’ CAB Abstracts ’...very valuable to all those who are interested in understanding this complex subject.’ TESG (Journal of Economic and Social Geography) ’...Cécora does an excellent job of comprehensively reviewing the literature on the topics relevant to stimulating development of rural and less developed regions...The book contains interesting perspectives on the sociocultural aspects of regional development policy...’ APA Journal

From the Publisher