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This paper analyses the location of foreign direct investment across the regions of Great Britain over 1985–2005 using the framework of discretized Markov chains. FDI is measured according to the regional share of inward investment projects, where a distinction is made between manufacturing and services, and industries with different FDI growth profiles. The paper finds convergence in location, which is strong in manufacturing arising from a North-to-South shift in location. This seems to be related to a weakening of UK regional policy, and suggests that while policy can overcome agglomeration economies, it is not self-sustaining. In services, there is some spreading out of FDI location, but no evidence of a South-to-North shift, which has implications for regional development. RÉSUMÉ La présente communication analyse l'emplacement d'investissements directe étrangers dans les différentes régions de Grande-Bretagne, au cours de la période 1985–2005, en utilisant le cadre de chaînes discrétisées de Markov. On mesure les IDE en fonction de la répartition régionale de projets d'investissements étrangers, où l'on fait la distinction entre les secteurs secondaire et tertiaire, et des industries à profil d'expansion des IDE. La présente communication établit une convergence du lieu, forte dans l'activité manufacturière, découlant d'un déplacement nord–sud des lieux : ceci semble indiquer un affaiblissement de la politique régionale du Royaume-Uni, mais aussi le fait que, bien que la politique puisse surmonter des économies d'agglomération, cette politique n'est pas auto-portante. Dans le secteur tertiaire, on relève un certain étalement des lieux d'IDE, mais non pas un déplacement nord–sud, ce qui comporte des implications sur le plan du développement régional. EXTRACTO Este estudio analiza la colocación de inversión extranjera directa a lo largo de las regiones de Gran Bretaña entre 1985–2005 empleando el marco de cadenas discretizadas de Markov. La FDI se mide conforme a la cuota regional de proyectos de inversión interior donde se distingue entre fabricación y servicios, e industrias con diferentes perfiles de crecimiento de FDI. El estudio descubre convergencia en la colocación, que es fuerte en fabricación y surge de un giro en colocación de ‘norte a sur’. Esto parece estar relacionado con un debilitamiento de la política regional británica, y sugiere que aunque la política puede superar las economías de aglomeración, no es autosuficiente. En cuanto a servicios, existe un cierto despliegue en la colocación de FDI, pero no hay evidencia de un giro de ‘sur a norte’, lo que tiene implicaciones para el desarrollo regional. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The use of information intermediaries has been shown to undermine the effect of brand in online markets. In this paper, the effect of consumer search on the relationship between brand advertising and pricing strategies is analysed. Price data are taken from the leading UK motor insurance comparison website, with the advantage that prices can be related to the search characteristics of consumers and to the advertising expenditure of firms. The paper finds that more-advertised firms have lower price rankings at the comparison site, indicating that advertising is informative in this market. The main result is that consumer search weakens the relationship between advertising and pricing. An implication is that increased usage of price comparison sites will make informative brand advertising less important. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Regional economics appears to be losing its currency in academic discourse, with a clear preference over recent years for the term 'spatial economics'. This essay examines the nature of the developments in order to explore their implications for regional economics, focusing on four key aspects: empirical methods and the 'tools' of regional economics; theory and the appropriate spatial scale; the 'regional problem'; and regional policy. It finds reasons to suggest that the 'region' is of less importance, but argues that the use of the term 'spatial' does not reflect dissatisfaction with regional economics, but rather it signals the reinvigoration of the subject from its formal connection to mainstream economics. This is primarily in the form of the new economic geography model, although limitations with this have led to an unsatisfactory form of regional policy that is based on growth theory. Avance de l'economie spatiale: une communication sur la nature et la pertinence de l'economie regionale RESUME L'economie regionale semble avoir perdu du terrain dans les discussions academiques, et on lui prefere clairement, depuis quelques annees, l'expression 'economie spatiale'. La presente communication se penche sur la nature des developpements, afin d'explorer leurs implications pour l'economie regionale, en examinant les quatre aspects principaux suivants: les methodes empiriques et les 'outils' de l'economie regionale; la theorie et l'echelle spatiale appropriee; le 'probleme regional'; et la politique regionale. Il determine des raisons pour affirmer que la 'region' joue un role moins important, mais estime que l'usage du mot 'spatial' ne reflete pas le mecontentement avec l'economie regionale, mais indique un renouveau pour ce sujet apres ses liens officiels avec l'economie generale. Ce renouveau se presente principalement sous forme du nouveau modele de geographie economique, bien que certaines de ses limitations risquent de donner lieu a une forme peu satisfaisante de politique regionale, basee sur la theorie de la croissance. Avance de lo espacial: un trabajo sobre la naturaleza y la importancia de la economia regional RESUMEN La economia regional parece estar perdiendo su difusion dentro de la disertacion academica, mientras que durante los ultimos anos se observa una preferencia clara por el termino 'economia espacial'. Este trabajo examina la naturaleza de los desarrollos con objeto de explorar sus implicaciones para la economia regional, centrandose en cuatro aspectos clave: metodos empiricos y las 'herramientas' de la economia regional; teoria y la escala espacial apropiada; el 'problema regional'; y politica regional. Encuentra razones que sugieren que la 'region' tiene menor importancia, aunque arguye que el uso del termino 'espacial' no refleja insatisfaccion con la economia regional, sino que indica la revitalizacion del tema con respecto a su conexion formal con la economia dominante. Esto se da principalmente en la forma del nuevo modelo de geografia economica, aunque sus limitaciones pueden resultar en una forma insatisfactoria de politica regional basada en teoria de crecimiento. [image omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers insights on the industrial symbiosis an the field of ecology in the U.S. It introduces regional studies to industrial symbiosis and the field of ecology to which it belongs, and then summarizes each of the papers contributing to the issue. It presents conclusions about the potential overlapping between industrial symbiosis and regional development which claims that industrial symbiosis (IS) does have potential to generate regional environmental economic benefits. Nevertheless, increasing imperatives for regional sustainable economic development may dictate that IS system-scale approach to resource efficiency receive serious exploration.

This paper seeks to reconcile evaluative practice with theory, focusing on the micro-evaluation of UK regional industrial policy. Two issues are examined: the measurement of the pecuniary external effects, including displacement and linkages; and the concept of 'additionality', which is central to the industrial survey approach. It argues that current evaluative practice is at odds with theory, but while cost-benefit analysis simplifies the measurement of the external effects, it has other features that may limit its appeal. On 'additionality', the paper traces its evolution, and shows that it is a multi-dimensional concept. It argues that in practice the use of 'additionality' is deficient as it ignores the firm's private funds and all forms of deadweight transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors reflect on the beginnings of "Regional Studies." They point out that the issue seeks to reflect the journal's establishment, evolution and progress on its 40th anniversary. The authors outlined the origins and establishment of the journal and noted the important developments over the years. It is also emphasized that reflecting on the history of the journal is essential in defining its identity.

The article discusses various papers published within the issue, including one by Wolf Huber on the evaluation of European Cohesion Policy and another one Thiemo W. Eser and Eva Nussmueller on the evaluation of European Union Structural Funds, Community Initiatives and Cohesion Fund.

The article reviews the recent developments in UK competitiveness policy, and explores its relationship with industrial policy, including regional industrial policy. It argues that competitiveness is virtually synonymous with productivity growth, but that while four Competitiveness White Papers of the 1990s potentially broadened the scope of UK industrial policy, the shift from 'sectoral' to 'horizontal' measures has in fact helped much reduce the content of this policy. The article reviews current industrial policy and expenditure, distinguishing between the areas of science and technology, small firms and regional policy. It argues that industrial policy is now a part of competitiveness policy,being closely aligned to the efficiency role of government. It finds that while policy has converged on a narrower set of measures, the traditional boundaries between the science and technology, small firm and regional policy components have become much less clear-cut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the employment creation effects of financial assistance to industry. The assistance schemes covered are the regional policy instruments of Regional Development Grant and Regional Selective Assistance, and the assistance policies of local authorities and a number of other agencies. Using survey data and regression techniques it is shown that there are significant variations in cost-effectiveness between assistance schemes and between projects of different purpose. A policy implication of this is that agencies could increase the employment creation effects of their policies by focusing assistance on particular types of project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates the United Kingdom's regional policy. Primary aim of regional policy; Methods to make regional policy more effective; Major task of Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).

The article reflects the changes in the publication schemes of the journal due to the relocation of its office to the Newcastle Upon Thyne, England. Among the changes include the new editorial team which is to develop and sustain the high quality and international reputation of the journal through publishing high standard theoretical research in an international, multi and interdisciplinary field of regional studies. Special and mini-theme issues are introduces as an integral part of the publishing.