Prof' Dr' Borislav Stojkov Topic TERRITORIAL COMPETITIVENESS

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Prof. Dr. Borislav StojkovTopicTERRITORIAL
COMPETITIVENESS
TRIESTE UNIVERSITY THE MASTER COURSE

• January, 2007

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What is territorial competitiveness?

• Utilizing and developing economic strengths and
  dynamics (efficiently) of a territory, developing
  growth poles (urban centers) and (sustainably)
  utilizing territorial capital (with accessibility
  as a prerequisite) PlaNet CenSE project, 2006
• Performance of an economy securing or defending
  market share (Karaman, Baycan-Levent, 2005)
• The ability so sustain change in the factors that
  give rise to productivity growth (technology,
  human resources etc.), but also the structure of
  economy and how policy seeks to shape it (Begg,
  1999)

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What is territorial competitiveness?

• Dependence of a territory on the structure on its
  economy and on its sectoral specialization, as
  well as contextual conditions such as character
  and effectiveness of institutions, the quality
  and spread of infrastructure, and other factors
  which influence the efficiency of territorial
  system as a whole
• An attribute through which territories get
  advantages against others, and through which they
  attract investments
• Capacity to engage with global capital, to
  perform an effective organization and to provide
  spatially attractive amenities (Karaman et al,
  2005)
• Capacity to compete with others (in economy,
  culture, social activities etc) in the global
  context (Stojkov, 2006)

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What is competitiveness?

• A level of territorial power to compete founded
  on
• Investments in territorial capital (human,
  natural, technical resources)
• Level of recognizable feature, appearance, brand
  (identity)
• Institutional capacities, i.e. effective local
  authority, institutional governance and
  organizational performance
• Quality of life and security (legal, physical)
• Accessibility of the territory

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Question

• How to promote competitiveness, i.e. the level of
  goods and services production in a territory,
  which meets the test of wider regional, national
  and international markets, while simultaneously
  increasing real incomes, improving the quality of
  life for citizens and promoting sustainable
  development? (Lever and Turok, 1999)

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Answer

• By a skilled and educated labor force
• By efficient modern infrastructure
• By responsive and responsible territorial
  governance
• By a flexible land and property market
• By protected public goods and interest
• By providing spatially attractive amenities
• By adjusted and stable legal system

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Competitiveness secured by

• Networking (interregional, intraregional, PPP)
  potentials
• Vision, goal and strategies
• Socio economic conditions, but political also
  (cohabitation of parties)

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Competitiveness and competition

• EU model
• Competitiveness and increased capacities of
  territories to compete with others
• Level of a territorial capacity depending on use
  of equal opportunities (EU programmes)
• Power to compete with others in win/win game
• USA model
• Competition as a game (battle) among actors
• Win/loose game
• Offensive or defensive game with no supporting
  programmes

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Discussion

• How do you understand relation between
  territorial development and idea on cohesion,
  identity and competitiveness?
• Ilustrate cohesion, identity and competitiveness
  on an example from your region?