When Innovation Does Not Pay Off: Introducing the “European Regional Paradox”

Fragkandreas, Thanos 2013. When Innovation Does Not Pay Off: Introducing the “European Regional Paradox”. European Planning Studies. 21 (12), pp. 2078-2086. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2012.741566

TitleWhen Innovation Does Not Pay Off: Introducing the “European Regional Paradox”
TypeJournal article
AuthorsFragkandreas, Thanos
Abstract

In the last few decades, innovation has been widely recognized to be the engine of wealth and prosperity as it intensifies competition and increases productivity, which both in turn lead to significant economic benefits such as higher income per capita and increased employment. However, empirical evidence in this article illustrates that innovation seems not to have paid-off for some of the most innovative regions in Europe, as these regions, despite being highly innovative, grow at a slower pace than their national counterparts, as well as presenting poor economic outcomes such as low income per capita and high unemployment rates. The aim of this article is to communicate this intriguing observation to both innovation scholars and to policy-makers, since its very existence seems to cast doubt not only on one of the most principal assumptions in the field of innovation studies (i.e. innovation as the engine of growth) but also on one of the most fundamental pillars currently underpinning several regional, national and supranational economic policies.

JournalEuropean Planning Studies
Journal citation21 (12), pp. 2078-2086
ISSN0965-4313
1469-5944
Year2013
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2012.741566
Web address (URL)http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2012.741566
Publication dates
PublishedDec 2013

Related outputs

Case Study Research on Innovation Systems: Paradox, Dialectical Analysis and Resolution
Fragkandreas, T. 2025. Forthcoming. Case Study Research on Innovation Systems: Paradox, Dialectical Analysis and Resolution. Research Policy. 54 (1) 105136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2024.105136

Innovation (as a Systemic Activity) and Income Inequality: Conceptual Model and Causal Mechanisms
Fragkandreas, T. 2023. Innovation (as a Systemic Activity) and Income Inequality: Conceptual Model and Causal Mechanisms. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4553983

Striking the Golden Mean: Organisational Identity and Innovation in the German Games Industry
Fragkandreas, T. and Storz, C. 2022. Striking the Golden Mean: Organisational Identity and Innovation in the German Games Industry. 34th SASE Annual conference 2022 (Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics). Amsterdam, Netherlands 09 - 11 Jul 2022

Three Decades of Research on Innovation and Inequality
Fragkandreas, T. 2022. Three Decades of Research on Innovation and Inequality. AHE Conference 2022 - Association for Heterodox Economics. SOAS, London, UK 06 - 08 Jul 2022

Three decades of research on innovation and inequality: Causal scenarios, explanatory factors and suggestions
Fragkandreas, T. 2022. Three decades of research on innovation and inequality: Causal scenarios, explanatory factors and suggestions. Prometheus: Critical Studies in Innovation. 38 (2), pp. 147-193. https://doi.org/10.13169/prometheus.38.2.0147

Innovation Systems and Income Inequality: In Search of Causal Mechanisms
Fragkandreas, T. 2021. Innovation Systems and Income Inequality: In Search of Causal Mechanisms. Birkbeck College, University of London.

"Innovation-Productivity Paradox: Implications for Regional Policy" Background paper for the OECD-EC High-Level Expert Workshop series “Productivity Policy for Places”, March 3 and 5
Fragkandreas, T. 2021. "Innovation-Productivity Paradox: Implications for Regional Policy" Background paper for the OECD-EC High-Level Expert Workshop series “Productivity Policy for Places”, March 3 and 5. Paris OECD Publishing.

Innovation Studies and Policy: A Topic-Sentiment Analysis
Fragkandreas, T., Leitzinger, L. and Liebald, M. 2021. Innovation Studies and Policy: A Topic-Sentiment Analysis. 32nd Annual EAEPE Conference 2020. Online 02 - 04 Sep 2021

Innovation Systems and Inequality
Fragkandreas, T. 2020. Innovation Systems and Inequality. European Association of Evolutionary Political Economy Workshop on Innovation Networks. Stuttgart Feb 2020

Do Innovation Systems Induce Inequality?
Fragkandreas, T. 2020. Do Innovation Systems Induce Inequality? Society for the Advancement of Socioeconomics (SASE) Annual Conference 2020. Online 18 - 21 Jul 2020

Innovation and Inequality: Review and Avenues
Fragkandreas, T. 2020. Innovation and Inequality: Review and Avenues. 32nd Annual Conference of the European Association for Evolutionary Political Economy. (online conference) 02 - 04 Sep 2022

The Paradox of Case Study Research in Innovation Systems Studies: A Dialectical Analysis
Fragkandreas, T. 2020. The Paradox of Case Study Research in Innovation Systems Studies: A Dialectical Analysis. British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference 2020. Alliance Manchester Business School I University of Manchester 02 - 04 Sep 2020 British Academy of Management.

Knowledge Diffusion in Management: Kaizen in Sub-Saharan Africa
Fragkandreas, T. 2020. Knowledge Diffusion in Management: Kaizen in Sub-Saharan Africa. in: Firms, Institutions, and the State in East Asia Marburg Metropolis. pp. 89-110

Critical Realism in Economics: Methodologically Weak or Untapped
Fragkandreas, T. 2019. Critical Realism in Economics: Methodologically Weak or Untapped. 2nd Vienna Conference on Pluralism in Economics. University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna 15 - 16 Apr 2019

Do Innovation Systems Induce Inequality?
Fragkandreas, T. 2019. Do Innovation Systems Induce Inequality? AFEP-IIPPE International Conference. Lille, France 03 - 05 Jul 2019

Innovation paradoxes: a review and typology of explanations
Fragkandreas, T. 2017. Innovation paradoxes: a review and typology of explanations. Prometheus: Critical Studies in Innovation. 35 (4), pp. 267-290. https://doi.org/10.1080/08109028.2018.1506620

Innovation and Inequality: An Outline of an Alternative Perspective
Fragkandreas, T. 2016. Innovation and Inequality: An Outline of an Alternative Perspective. 19th Uddevalla Symposium. London, UK 30 Jun - 02 Jul 2016

Two Decades of Research on Innovation Paradoxes: A Review and Directions for Future Research
Fragkandreas, T. 2015. Two Decades of Research on Innovation Paradoxes: A Review and Directions for Future Research. 17th Annual Conference of the Association for Heterodox Economics. Southampton Solent University, Southampton, UK 02 - 04 Jul 2015

When innovation does not pay-off: A tale of competitiveness in seven European regions
Fragkandreas, T. 2013. When innovation does not pay-off: A tale of competitiveness in seven European regions. 42nd Annual Conference and 3rd Annual Doctoral Colloquium. Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, UK 20 - 22 Aug 2013

Reflections on social capital and economic performance
Fragkandreas, T. 2012. Reflections on social capital and economic performance. International Review of Sociology / Revue Internationale de Sociologie. 22 (2), pp. 259-271. https://doi.org/10.1080/03906701.2012.696968

When Innovation does not Pay-off: An intriguing Observation from the European Regional Innovation Scoreboard
Fragkandreas, T. 2011. When Innovation does not Pay-off: An intriguing Observation from the European Regional Innovation Scoreboard. Annual Conference of the International Association of Critical Realism. Olso, Norway Sep 2011

Is Critical Realism a philosophy in search of a method?
Fragkandreas, T. 2011. Is Critical Realism a philosophy in search of a method? Annual Conference of the International Association of Critical Realism. Olso, Norway Sep 2011

''The Structure of Invention'': A Critical Analysis
Fragkandreas, T. 2011. ''The Structure of Invention'': A Critical Analysis. Discussion Group, Centre for Innovation Management Research, Birkbeck, University of London. London Nov 2011

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/vz1xq/when-innovation-does-not-pay-off-introducing-the-european-regional-paradox


Share this

Usage statistics

112 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.