This paper investigates the production and the development of innovation in relation to its\r\ngeography for Greece relying on the theoretical and empirical argument that economic activity\r\nconcentrates geographically because of scale and proximity effects and that innovation is an\r\nimportant and motivating factor for this concentration. Empirical research shows that\r\neconomic and innovative activities tend to concentrate spatially, and over time a pattern of\r\ngeographical concentration of both production and innovative activities will occur. However,\r\nempirical research also suggests that there are differences in spatial concentration of both\r\ninnovative and economic activities, both across regions and branches of industry. Particularly\r\nfor innovative activities, they tend to be concentrated in few regions, industrial sectors and\r\ntechnological fields.\r\nThe analysis relies on Greek patent records, which have been collected for a period 23 years\r\n(1988-2010). The paper puts more light into an area that has been little studied in Greece.\r\nBased on the geographical origin of patent owners results confirm the theoretical and empirical\r\nargument of both concentration and importance of few regions and cities in the production and\r\nthe development of innovation. The geographical distribution of Greek patents and the\r\nemerging pattern also identify spatial differences and highlight regions and cities of better\r\nperformance. These regions and cities are at the same time the major Greek economic,\r\nindustrial and commercial centers, while most of Greeks live there. Results also show the\r\nesixtence of few exceptions, which are related to specific national features and peculiarities of\r\nthe Greek case.
Loading....