Local Economic Development Sociology

The course provides the students with the basic knowledge and analytical tools to understand local economic development, with special reference to the role of institutional factors, collaborative enterprise networks, the innovation system, and the increasing interdependence of production systems. Particular attention is devoted to analyse the case of Italian industrial districts and their transformation since the 1970s as well as the recent emergence of the "knowledge and cultural economy", with special reference to urban areas.

At the end of the course, students will understand and will be able to present the basic factors influencing the patterns of local economic development within the global economy, with particular reference to the role of local institutions and policies, collaborative enterprise network, and the innovation system. Students will be able to apply the analytical framework developed during the course to empirical cases. Students will know the origin and recent transformations of the system of Italian industrial districts and the main features of the knowledge and cultural economy in urban areas.