Focusing on the dynamics of the knowledge economy, this volume provides an overview of the knowledge creation capabilities of economies, an examination of their growth performance and a detailed analysis of how the creation and connection of knowledge is becoming the key means of growing productivity.

Huggins and Izushi introduce the concepts of network capital and knowledge communities to explain and understand how knowledge is connected and transferred across firms, organizations and economies, whilst taking issue with accepted concepts of business clusters, social capital and endogenous growth theory. This book demonstrates how the knowledge economy has fundamentally shifted the way in which the values of both firms and economies are measured and points to the way in which the knowledge race has become global due to increasing parts of the developing world being integrated with the developed world through international trade and investment.

This book will interest students and researchers engaged with the knowledge economy, management and economic geography, as well as managers and public policy makers interested in competitiveness and economic development.

"The book deserves the attention of regional economists, management scientists and economic geographers. Since it provides a broad overview on diverse aspects of the knowledge-based economy, it is suitable for advanced students as well. Most important, it offers instructive and well-reflected recommendations for practitioners in regional and technology policy and business. The book can be recommended because it is scientifically ambitious and practically relevant—a balance that is rarely achieved."

Oliver Ibert, University of Bonn (Economic Geography)

"The book deserves the attention of regional economists, management scientists and economic geographers. Since it provides a broad overview on diverse aspects of the knowledge-based economy, it is suitable for advanced students as well. Most important, it offers instructive and well-reflected recommendations for practitioners in regional and technology policy and business. The book can be recommended because it is scientifically ambitious and practically relevant—a balance that is rarely achieved."

Oliver Ibert, University of Bonn (Economic Geography)

"I probably could not have asked for a better primer on the importance and impact of regional clusters in general, and Silicon Valley in particular, within the wider context of the global knowledge economy where innovative small and new firms are clearly important actors. The authors are to be commended for their contribution throuth this book, which suggests a number of avenues for fruitfull small business research."

Shameen Prashantham, University of Glasgow (International Small Business Journal)