URBAN AND REGIONAL ECONOMICS

"Achieving Sustainable Urban Form" represents a major advance in the sustainable development debate. It moves on from theoretical discourse about sustainable urban forms to proven knowledge and good practice. It presents research which defines elements of sustainable urban form - density, size, configuration, detailed design and quality - from macro to micro scale. Case studies from Europe, the USA and Australia are used to illustrate good practice within the fields of planning, urban design and architecture. "Acheiving Sustainable Urban Form" is a progression from the editor's previous book "The Compact City: A Sustainable Urban Form?" This new volume addresses the problems and complexities involved in defining and developing sustainable urban forms, but also shows that real advances have been made

This volume investigates the dynamics of regional performance in advanced countries and the mechanisms that allow some regions to grow more rapidly than others, to become and remain more competitive in the long run. The authors show how the capability of regions to innovate is enhanced by a large number of factors, including entrepreneurship, clustering, creativity, new technologies, human capital and the presence of internal, intra-regional, and external, extra-regional, connections. The book is mainly theoretical, but all chapters also analyze the policy consequences. Moreover, the empirical results reinforce the theoretical findings and as such are more broadly applicable and not bound to the specific case. The general reach of the theoretical arguments, and the focus on policy consequences, make this book helpful for both scholars and policymakers.

Subprime nation: American power, global capital, and the housing bubble Herman M. Schwartz 0 Resenhas Cornell University Press, 2009 - 258 páginas

Like a good city,Postmodern Urbanismcan be read from many perspectives as a rich conversation of world views, languages, and artifacts....It's a generous and thoughtful piece of scholarship which is unlikely to be superseded."-Charles Jencks Since the 1960s, many architects and urban planners have reacted against the drab universalism and inhuman scale of modern architecture and urbanism, seeking instead to recover a sense of community and place. It is apparent to these architects and planners, as well as segments of the general public, that something needs to be done to improve the physical landscape and the sense of desolation it arouses. Efforts to do so have been grouped under the rubric "postmodern urbanism." While this late- twentieth-century quest for meaning has elicited nostalgia for cities of the past, it has not been accompanied by a desire to relinquish technological innovations that raise the standard of living, or the pursuit of progress and modernity. Postmodern Urbanismexamines these important and complex issues that directly affect our cities and neighborhoods in a book that has been widely heralded for its clarity and insight.

Martin Horak. Governing the Post-Communist City: Institutions and Democratic Development in Prague. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007. xii + 270 pp. $55.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-8020-9328-8. Reviewed by Carlos Nunes Silva (Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning , University of Lisbon) Published on H-Urban (October, 2010) Commissioned by Alexander Vari Institutional Change and Local Government Performance in Prague In Governing the Post-Communist City Martin Horak examines and assesses the performance of democratic local government in the first decade of post-communist Prague (1990-2000). In his analysis, Horak considers, among other dimensions, the process through which policies are produced, the degree of openness in the policy process, the ability to govern systematically, and the input from societal actors. The decision to use a local case and a holistic perspective to study post-communist politics proves wise as it allows a better understanding of post-communist transformations than would have been possible through a national case study. The book is organized into six chapters focused on two main research questions: 1) what impacts did the nature of the decision-making environment have on the behavior of political leaders in early post-communist Prague; and 2) what were the longer-term effects of this decision-making behavior? Horak argues, in the first case, that Prague's local politicians reacted to their unstable and institutionally incoherent environment by seeking simple, short-term solutions in key areas of urban policy. In the second case, his argument is that increasing returns processes were responsible for the maintenance of Prague's mix of institutional forms, which were created by decisions taken during the early post-communist period. Two different policy areas are examined: freeways construction and the management of Prague's historical center. In chapter 1, Horak offers an introductory account of institutional changes and governme

The SAGE Handbook of Grounded Theory: Paperback Edition Kathy Charmaz, Antony Bryant 2 Resenhas SAGE Publications, 2010 - 656 páginas 'Tony Bryant and Kathy Charmaz are the perfect editors for this excellent and forward looking Handbook which is surely destined to be a classic' - David Silverman, Professor Emeritus, Goldsmiths College For anyone interested in grounded theory this is a must have book. No longer will students have to search the library or internet to find authoritative voices on a variety of topics. It's all right there at their fingertips - Juliet Corbin, San José State University Grounded Theory is by far the most widely used research method across a wide range of disciplines and subject areas, including social sciences, nursing and healthcare, medical sociology, information systems, psychology, and anthropology. This handbook gives a comprehensive overview of the theory and practice of Grounded Theory, taking into account the many attempts to revise and refine Glaser and Strauss' original formulation and the debates that have followed. Antony Bryant & Kathy Charmaz bring together leading researchers and practitioners of the method from the US, the UK, Australia and Europe to represent all the major standpoints within Grounded Theory, demonstrating the richness of the approach. The contributions cover a wide range of perspectives on the method, covering its features and ramifications, its intricacies in use, its demands on the skills and capabilities of the researcher and its position in the domain of research methods. The SAGE Handbook of Grounded Theory is an indispensable reference source for academics and researchers across many disciplines who want to develop their understanding of the Grounded Theory method.

Il marketing urbano-territorale. Il marketing per città, aree urbane e metropolitane, organismi territorali Antonio Foglio 0 Resenhas FrancoAngeli, 2006

Negotiating local development: the Italian experience of 'Territorial Pacts' Francesco Ramella Received 6 April 2009; in revised form 23 November 2009 Abstract. This study deals with a new policy for disadvantaged areas that has been introduced in Italy since the second half of the 1990s. This policy aims to promote local development based on partnerships between public and private actors. I present research carried out on thirty 'Territorial Pacts', analysing their impact at the local level. In some cases the results of the new policy were positive; in others they were very disappointing. Three key factors explain these different results. The first relates to the form of social interaction between local actors (the concertation factor). The second involves the presence or absence of policy entrepreneurs-namely, actors and institutions that ensured a strong and effective process management (the leadership factor). The third involves the political and organisational choices made in both the start-up and implementation phases of the pacts (the continuity factor).

Foro Internacional "Modelos en Gestión de la Innovación Regional Agrícola y Agroindustrial" Escrito por daniela Jueves 22 de Julio de 2010 12:11 El próximo 28 de julio se llevará a cabo en Bogotá un espacio de reflexión denominado  Foro Internacional "Modelos en Gestión de la Innovación Regional Agrícola y Agroindustrial. Experiencia de Francia y España", sin ningún costo, que pretende "dar a conocer la experiencia internacional en gestión de la innovación regional, revisando casos puntuales como polos de competitividad, parques tecnológicos y centros tecnológicos aplicados al sector agrícola y agroindustrial" El evento contará con más de cinco conferencias que irán desde las 7:00 AM hasta las 5:00 PM y dirigido a los empresarios del sector agrícola y agroindustrial, productores, procesadores, comercializadores, empresas prestadoras de servicios; Universidades y Centros de Investigación e Instituciones de apoyo al sector. La presentación de experiencias regionales e internacionales, panel de preguntas donde los asistentes tendrán la oportunidad de interactuar con los conferencistas, y una muestra de afiches que hace parte de proyectos de innovación y desarrollo tecnológico en la región; serán algunas de las actividades programadas. Entre los conferencistas están: María Isabel Agudelo, Vicepresidenta de Competitividad  de la Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá; Jesús Alberto Villamil, Director ejecutivo  Corredor Tecnológico Agroindustrial; Yves Gidoin, Co-presidente de la comisión internacional del polo Vegepolys y Consejero de comercio Exterior de Francia; Jean Francois Runnel Belliard, Director de Agropolo y Jorge Saludes, Director Proyectos Internacionales Centro Tecnológico Ainia. Cierre de inscripciones: 26 de julio Para más información: E-mail: agroindustrialmega@ccb.org.co Teléfono: 3830330   Lugar: Centro Empresarial Salitre - Avenida Eldorado 68D-35 piso 1 Ciudad: Bogotá D.C http://www.ccb.org.co/contenido/co

Spaces of neoliberalism: urban restructuring in North America and Western Europe Neil Brenner, Nik Theodore 0 Resenhas Wiley-Blackwell, 2002 - 294 páginas This is the first volume to analyse systematically the role of neoliberalism in contemporary processes of urban restructuring. Includes contributions from leading scholars in the fields of critical urban studies, radical geography and state theory. Analyses the role of neoliberalism in contemporary processes of urban restructuring. Synthesises a variety of new theoretical approaches to key issues in contemporary urban studies. Incorporates new case study material of ongoing urban transformations in the USA, Canada, the UK and other Western European countri

WorldMinds: geographical perspectives on 100 problems : commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Association of American Geographers 1904-2004 : celebrating geography - the next 100 years Donald G. Janelle, Barney Warf, Kathy Hansen 0 Resenhas Springer, 2004 - 635 páginas WorldMinds provides broad exposure to a geography that is engaged with discovery, interpretation, and problem solving. Its 100 succinct chapters demonstrate the theories, methods, and data used by geographers, and exemplify the conceptual and topical richness of contemporary geography. The 150 contributing authors and co-authors address the challenges posed by issues such as globalization, regional and ethnic conflict, environmental hazards, terrorism, poverty, and sustainable development. This volume demonstrates the utility of geography as a conceptual discipline that contributes theoretically; as an applied practice that informs policy-making; and as a coherent set of methodologies to gather and analyze data about Earth and its occupants. WorldMinds is the ideal general reader to supplement textbooks in the full range of academic geography courses. In addition to geography students and instructors, it is relevant to researchers, applied geographers and policy makers

Scale and geographic inquiry: nature, society, and method Eric S. Sheppard, Robert Brainerd McMaster 3 Resenhas Wiley-Blackwell, 2004 - 272 páginas This book is the first contemporary book to compare and integrate the various ways geographers think about and use scale across the spectrum of the discipline and includes state-of-the-art contributions by authoritative human geographers, physical geographers and GIS specialists. Provides a state of the art survey of how geographers think about scale. Brings together recent interest in scale in human and physical geography, as well as geographic information science Places competing concepts of scale side by side in order to compare them. The introduction and conclusion, by the editors, explores the common ground.

New state spaces urban governance and the rescaling of statehood Auteur(s) : BRENNER Neil Date de parution: 09-2004 Langue : ANGLAIS 336p. 23.4x15.6 Hardback Etat : Disponible chez l'éditeur (délai de livraison : 12 jours) Commentaire A highly significant contribution by a major young scholar Will attract a broad interdisciplinary readership Résumé Neil Brenner has in the past few years made a major impact on the ways in which we understand the changing political geographies of the modern state. Simultaneously analyzing the restructuring of urban governance and the transformation of national states under globalizing capitalism, 'New State Spaces' is a mature and sophisticated analysis of broad interdisciplinary interest, making this a highly significant contribution to the subject. Sommaire Preface, 1.: Introduction: Cities, States, and the 'Explosion of Spaces', 2.: The Globalization Debates: Opening up to New Spaces?, 3.: The State Spatial Process under Capitalism: A Framework for Analysis, 4.: Urban Governance and the Nationalization of State Space: Political Geographies of Spatial Keynesianism, 5.: Interlocality Competition as a State Project: Urban Locational Policy and the Rescaling of State Space, 6.: Alternative Rescaling Strategies and the Future of New State Spaces, Bibliography, Index © Lavoisier 2000-2010

Social economy of the metropolis: cognitive-cultural capitalism and the global resurgence of cities Allen John Scott 0 Resenhas Oxford University Press US, 2008 - 182 páginas This book is about the renaissance of cities in the twenty first century and their increasing role as centers of creative economic activity. It attempts to put some conceptual and descriptive order around issues of urbanization in the contemporary world, emphasizing the idea of the social economy of the metropolis, which is to say, a view of the urban organism as an intertwined system of social and economic life played out through the arena of urban space. The book opens with a review of some essentials of urban theory, the book aims to re-articulate the urban question in a way that is relevant to city life and politics in the present era. It then analyses the functional characteristics of the urban economy, with special reference to the rise of a group of core sectors such as media, fashion, music, etc., focused on cognitive and cultural forms of work. These sectors are growing with great rapidity in the world's largest cities at the present time, and they play a major role in the urban resurgence that has been occurring of late. The discussion then explores the spatial ramifications of this new economy in cities and the ways in which it appears to be ushering in major shifts in divisions of labor and urban social stratification, as marked by a growing divide between a stratum of elite workers on the one side and a low-wage proletariat on the other. Allen Scott is one of the world's foremost thinkers on the economies of modern cities, and in this book presents a concise introduction to his innovative and insightful perspectiv

RBACT Events Save the Date: URBACT ANNUAL CONFERENCE - 30 November & 1 December 2010 15 August 2010 Next URBACT Annual Conference will be held in Liège in Belgium, from Tuesday 30 November noon to Wednesday 1 December noon 2010 in Liège Conference Centre.  Over 350 participants including URBACT project Lead Partners, partners, members of Local Support Groups, Experts as well as Member States and  European Commission representatives are to attend. We are pleased to also announce the presence of the European Commissioner Johannes Hahn responsible for regional policy.  Over 320 people attended the URBACT Annual Conference in Stockholm on November 25th 2009, where URBACT projects discussed the challenges of integrated sustainable urban development in the context of economic downturn and environmental uncertainty. This exceptional day was a great success and we hope that you will join us for our 2010 edition in Liège! Interactive workshops and plenary sessions as well as field visits and evening events are all on the programme throughout the two-day conference. This time is for you. Seize the opportunity for informal discussions. The second URBACT Café will offer you an informal moment to exchange around tables with cities from your country, on your experience and good practices. Registration will open in September. Stay informed by regularly visiting our URBACT website. URBACT annual Conference will be followed by the 'Multilevel Conference', event organised under the Belgium Presidency of the European Union, on Thursday 2 December 2010 in the same venue in Liège. We look forward to seeing you in Liège!      Read more: Special Report: Wide-ranging Discussions in Stockholm - URBACT website URBACT Annual Conference in Stockholm - Thematic workshops & Masterclass report - URBACT website

Community Supported Agriculture consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community's farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production. Typically, members or "share-holders" of the farm or garden pledge in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation and farmer's salary. In return, they receive shares in the farm's bounty throughout the growing season, as well as satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land and participating directly in food production. Members also share in the risks of farming, including poor harvests due to unfavorable weather or pests. By direct sales to community members, who have provided the farmer with working capital in advance, growers receive better prices for their crops, gain some financial security, and are relieved of much of the burden of marketing.

Gastronomie!: Food Museums and Heritage Sites of France Tom Hughes, Meredith Sayles Hughes 2 Resenhas Bunker Hill Publishing, Inc., 2005 - 128 páginas The first extensive exploration ever of French food historic sites, from the Saffron Museum in Boynes to the Chocolate Museum in Biarritz, from the oyster beds of Ile d'Oléron to the melon statue in Cavaillon.

A growing field of research is documenting the political investment of the consumer. Yet, consumers are invested of political responsibilities in many different ways, which respond to different visions of politics and consumption, culture and the economy. In this article we critically explore the particular stance of an increasingly international actor such as Slow Food, placing it in the context of current debates on the scope of alternative food networks and on the moral boundaries of the market. Starting from the Slow Food core in Bra, Italy, and through a variety of qualitative sources, both primary (interviews) and secondary (publications, public speeches), we show that while Slow Food contributes to the current political investment of the consumer, it does so in distinctive ways which bear witness to its gastronomic origin and middle-class constituency. Slow Food rhetoric works out a politically-thick vision of taste refinement: its imagined consumer is an 'eco-gastronome', someone who adds ecological concerns onto a continuously trained aesthetic appreciation of food. The article considers the scope of what Slow Food has defined as the 'right to pleasure' in the face of a tension between inclusion and exclusion running through contemporary consumer culture. It concludes by exploring Slow Food's current shifts towards issues such as economic growth, access to resources and environmental protection - crucial in defining the complex world of critical consumption - through a politico-aesthetic problematization of food consumption.

n this article, we discuss the recent success of extreme right politicians in the Flemish countryside. Because the Vlaams Belang, the dominant extreme right-wing party in Flanders, plays to racist attitudes and everyday fears, we study the interrelations between the rise of the extreme right, racism and a spatialized and racialized culture of fear. Based on a multi-level analysis of spatial variations of racism and a qualitative analysis of focus group interviews on fear of crime, we suggest that a rural or suburban vote for the extreme right Vlaams Belang has to be understood as a protest vote against the racialization and the insecurity of the central cities and as an anticipatory vote that has to stop the imagined infection of the 'white' and 'safe' countryside with urban 'diseases' like crime and foreigners.

In 2000, the average driver in US metropolitan areas endured 27 hours of traffic delays, a rise from 7 hours in 1980. In many other countries, traffic delays are considerably worse than in the United States, and in developing countries urban traffic congestion is increasing with alarming rapidity. For fifty years, economists have been advocating congestion pricing as the way to deal with urban traffic congestion; but today, even after some successes, congestion pricing is encountering considerable political resistance. The authors of Alleviating Urban Traffic Congestion advocate active consideration of more microscopic policies that attack the problem at the scale at which actual policy decisions are made. Microscopic models, rather than macroscopic models that are too simplified and too aggregated, they argue, will lead to the analysis of a wider and more creative range of policies, at least some of which should work well and be politically acceptable. After developing the themes of the book, the authors illustrate them by examining some areas of urban transport policy that have been neglected by the macroscopic approach. These include downtown parking policy, the encouragement of bicycling, the staggering of work hours by dominant employers, and the use by medium-sized cities of a "multimode" ticket that charges cars entering the city center a toll equal to the transit fare. The reorientation of urban transport analysis that they advocate will by no means eliminate traffic delays but should speed up the adoption of a richer, more flexible, and ultimately more effective set of policies to alleviate urban traffic congestion.