It is a widely accepted fact that tourism has become a prominent part of local economic development regarding to global economic restructuring and over the last two decades many regions have achieved tourism-led local economic development. The concept of &amp / #8216 / Institutional Thickness&amp / #8217 / which has been introduced within the context of institutional turn in economic geography and discussed intensively in local economic development context has important implications for tourism-led local economic development. The concept describes how institutional arrangements influence the capacity of localities to compete globally and emphasizes the importance of strong local institutional base and inter-institutional collaboration in local economic development. This thesis discusses tourism-led local economic development and the concept of institutional thickness and investigates how the concept relates to tourism-led local economic development. It aims to make an empirical assessment of institutional thickness. Using case study as a research method, the research focuses on Beypazari district that achieved domestic tourism development involving day excursions from the major metropolitan areas and trying to improve its local economy through tourism. In this locally initiated project, the local government collaborated with many institutions. The thesis assesses institutional thickness of Beypazari within its local economic development process. Keywords: Tourism, local economic development, institutional thickness

The aim of this thesis is to explore the role of local and global networking, institutionalization and institutional thickness of tourism firms and clusters in order to explain their contribution to tourism development. Recent development literature emphasizes the crucial role of different level of networks, institutionalizations and clustering in the development of regions. In this respect, this thesis tries to explore the role of networks, new organizational set-ups and clustering by adapting them to tourism case. It is hypothesized that global networks are also important in addition to local networks, and play crucial role in the performance of tourism firms and clusters. On this basis, types and intensity of local &amp / global networks in tourism organizations and clusters, development of associational structure in tourism clusters and firms, and the level of relations between different associations and tourism firms are tried to be examined by focusing on the theoretical framework on development models, networking, institution and cluster based studies. This thesis employs a quantitative method of analysis and social network analysis for identifiying the level of networks of tourism firms&amp / organizations and clusters. In this way, this thesis describes their contribution to local tourism development. Although tourism is somewhat different from other sectors, findings of the case study generally support the claims of the development literature for tourism case.

The role of soft factors in the development of the inner periphery of the Eastern Bohemia Abstract In recent years, research on conditionality process of space polarization and regional development puts emphasis on understanding importance of endogenous and "soft" factors. General theories of regional development (formed mainly on the basis of evaluating "hard" data) are verified by frequent case studies because of their limited explanatory power. In these case studies, especially qualitative approaches of evaluation are applied. Influence and validity of "soft" factors significantly increases with decreasing hierarchical level, so it is desirable to conduct empirical research at the municipal level. Diploma thesis aims to analyze "soft" factors of regional development and understand the nature of differences in socio-economic development at the municipal level in the inner periphery of Bohemia. The concept of the institutional thickness has become the theoretical basis. This concept has logical overlap to the concept of the social capital. The objects of research are the spatial co-operation of actors of regional development (mayors), their reciprocal trust and engagement in local activities. Thesis aims to identify and to explain the nature of relations, direction of interactions and impact of political...

The explorative case study aims to understand how the reform of business support and development undergoing in Stockholm municipality addresses existing institutions, and to what extent does the institutional context have the potential to adopt and sustain the change. Two case studies, Högdalen industrial area and Årsta wholesale center, illustrate how local economic development is organized in practice. A new policy document, Näringslivspolicy, is analyzed, along with interviews with key public and private agents. Two institutional theoretical frameworks are used: a dynamic perspective on the interaction between regulations and institutions and the concept of institutional thickness. Findings indicate that the examined reform is an example of institutional policymaking as it addresses institutional foundations underlying behavioral practices. Furthermore, empirical evidence shows that the City of Stockholm intends to adopt a place- and problem-based approach to local economic development, but its organizational forms are not specified at this stage. Findings illustrate (not exhaustively) factors of efficient external collaboration that reflect those in recent literature and can be used in future policy revisions. The success of the initiated reform might provide the fundament for improvements in future local economic development initiatives.

<p>This thesis deals with the causes and effects of spatial clustering of similar and related economic activity. The relationship between spatial clustering and industrial competitive-ness is analysed in a series of empirical studies, revolving around four research questions: How useful is an institutional approach in analyses of spatial clustering? Can the link between spatial clustering and industrial performance be empirically validated and measured by quantitative methods? In what sense does spatial clustering promote localised processes of learning and innovation? What role can industrial and regional policies play in promoting the type of localised processes emphasised in spatial clustering research?</p><p>It proves to be a rather complicated matter to measure the impact of spatial clustering on firm performance. In the case of export-oriented manufacturing firms in Sweden, the co-location of firms in a particular industry appears to have only a modest impact on export performance. However, when a more qualitative approach is applied, there is some evidence that spatial clustering can have a positive impact. A study of the Swedish music industry indicates that there is indeed a link between the concentration of music-related businesses in the Stockholm region and localised processes of learning and innovation. Such localised processes appear, in turn, to be linked to the ability to create and sustain industrial competitiveness. Finally, the thesis examines how the cluster concept has been put into practice in Swedish industrial and regional policies.</p>

This thesis deals with the causes and effects of spatial clustering of similar and related economic activity. The relationship between spatial clustering and industrial competitive-ness is analysed in a series of empirical studies, revolving around four research questions: How useful is an institutional approach in analyses of spatial clustering? Can the link between spatial clustering and industrial performance be empirically validated and measured by quantitative methods? In what sense does spatial clustering promote localised processes of learning and innovation? What role can industrial and regional policies play in promoting the type of localised processes emphasised in spatial clustering research? It proves to be a rather complicated matter to measure the impact of spatial clustering on firm performance. In the case of export-oriented manufacturing firms in Sweden, the co-location of firms in a particular industry appears to have only a modest impact on export performance. However, when a more qualitative approach is applied, there is some evidence that spatial clustering can have a positive impact. A study of the Swedish music industry indicates that there is indeed a link between the concentration of music-related businesses in the Stockholm region and localised processes of learning and innovation. Such localised processes appear, in turn, to be linked to the ability to create and sustain industrial competitiveness. Finally, the thesis examines how the cluster concept has been put into practice in Swedish industrial and regional policies.

科技產業崛起已逐漸蠶食輕工業區原先土地利用制度安排，台北市內湖輕工業區自市地重劃完成後，經由行動者興建廠辦大樓形塑科技園區意象，供廠商違規使用，接著再由園區內廠商自發性成立「台北市內湖科技園區發展協會」與台北市政府定期召開座談會，並配合修正「台北市內湖輕工業區輔導管理辦法」共同治理園區內土地利用方向，締造科技產業經濟奇蹟，成為活化產業用地新典範，變更為名符其實「台北市內湖科技園區」。 然而，毗鄰地區大彎北段商業區、娛樂區行動者藉以放寬產業進駐內湖輕工業區為由，衝擊大彎北段商業機能，因而產生替代效果，陸續將商業用地及娛樂用地，興建住宅社區違規供住宅使用，截至今日該地區約已達3,000戶，實際使用狀況，與都市計畫呈現明顯不符，已造成商業區、娛樂區與住宅使用衍生嚴重互斥等現象。 本文將以「制度厚實」、「路徑依賴」、「公共利益」等相關理論分析案例，透過公、私部門專業人士進行深度訪談提供卓見，作為本文研究過程中相互辯證及立論參考依據，進一步釐清兩地區制度變遷分歧原因，加以探索大彎北段商業區、娛樂區供住宅使用之正當性，抑或回歸商業及娛樂使用，並將研究結論提出建議事項，落實產業用地「公共利益」之精神。 / The rise of technology industry has gradually eroded the arrangement of original land utilization. Therefore, the land of light industry was replotting in Neihu. The actors wanted the area to be Technology Park, so the buildings were used inappropriately for firms. The firms in park established an association spontaneously and named “Taipei Neihu technology park development association. “Taipei city hall made the regular meetings with the association and coordinated to revise the counseling regulations of Taipei Neihu light industry. Government and companies managed the direction of land's usage together and make the economic miracle of technology. Thus, it’s a model to activate industrial land. The land named “Taipei NeiHu Technology Park” However, according to this reason, the commercial function of Northern Dawan has been impacted. In order to find alternatives, the land of commercial and entertainment was supplied to residence use. As of today, it’s over 3,000 houses in the region. The actual situation of usage is not identical with the city plans, which causes mutual exclusion among the region of commercial, entertainment, and residences area. This study used those theories (for institutional thickness, path dependent and Public Interest) to analyze some cases. Through the deep interview by experts which come from public and private departments, they provide some advice as mutual dialectical reference; we will also clarify the reasons of rule discrepancy between two regions in order to further explore the legitimacy of the usage in Northern Dawan commercial area and entertainment area, or return to commercial and entertainment use. We’ll submit conclusions and bring suggestion to implement the spirit of public interest on industrial estate.