Gerrit J. Hospers

Borders, bridges and branding: The transformation of the Øresund region into an imagined space

Abstract This article explores the spatial-economic transformation of the Scandinavian Øresund Region over the last decades with a focus on the role of place marketing (branding) in this transition process. Although the Øresund Region, in which Copenhagen and Malmö cooperate, is often highlighted as a European model for cross-border cooperation, this paper argues for a more nuanced view. To be sure, the branding of the Øresund builds upon unique regional assets and is symbolized by visible objects (e.g. the Øresund-bridge and a regional logo). Still, however, the Øresund Region is an “imagined space”: the conurbation is branded as an exciting Euregional hub, whereas the regions inhabitants still cope with many day-to-day problems of cross-border integration. The article concludes that this mismatch between the Øresunds identity and image may hamper the regions future development.

Place marketing in Europe: the branding of the Öresund region

European regions increasingly compete to attract and retain residents, entrepreneurs and visitors. As the location choice of people is based more and more on such soft factors as an area’s image, most regions apply a strategy of “place marketing”. In this context, the Scandinavian Euregion of the Oresund is often highlighted as “best practice”. How should we assess the marketing of Europe’s regions and what can be learned from the case of the Oresund?

Silicon Somewhere?: Assessing the usefulness of best practices in regional policy

Public authorities in the European Union actively promote the dissemination of so-called ‘best practices’ in regional policy. With the help of scoreboards, case studies and interregional benchmarks, policy makers hope to improve the competitiveness of Europes regions. In practice, however, this development has resulted in a tendency for regions to simply imitate a limited number of alleged success stories such as Silicon Valley. Hence, we can observe the emergence of a range of ‘Silicon Valley’ type initiatives across Europe. In this article the usefulness of such best practices in regional policy is assessed with the aim of drawing lessons. For this purpose, insights are combined from Schumpeterian thinking, economic geography and comparative public policy. First, the copycat behaviour in regional policy is explained by placing Schumpeters innovation theory in a political context. Then, the factors that are generally regarded in the economic-geographical literature as the determinants of regional competitiveness are reviewed. Thereafter, insights from comparative public policy are used to identify the ‘contingencies of lesson-drawing’, i.e. the preconditions that affect whether a policy can be transferred from one place to another. When combining the different bodies of literature, it is concluded that exactly those conditions that explain the success of a particular region are the most difficult elements to learn from. It is thus argued that the possibilities of lesson-drawing from best practices in regional policy are only limited. Moreover, by relying too heavily upon them, it is feared that regions undermine their competitiveness and become victims of a territorial race to the bottom. Policy makers are therefore advised to take care with the further propagation of ‘best practices’ in regional policy. Only when authorities are stimulated to attune their policy to area-based assets (‘regional realism’), will the wasteful attempts of regions to grow into the next ‘Silicon Somewhere’ be prevented.

Creative cities in Europe: Urban competitiveness in the knowledge economy

The European knowledge economy requires “creative cities”, competitive urban areas that are able to combine concentration, diversity, instability and a positive image. Examples of creative cities in history and recent “best practices” of such cities in Europe show that local governments cannot plan knowledge, creativity and innovation from scratch. How, then, can policymakers help in preparing Europes cities for the requirements of the knowledge economy?

Beyond the Blue Banana

For centuries, the “Blue Banana” — a banana-shaped metropolitan axis running from London to Milan — has been Europe’s breeding place for innovation and growth. Recently, however, the “Sunbelt” from Milan to Valencia and the “Yellow Banana” from Paris to Warsaw have been identified as future European growth poles beside or even beyond the Blue Banana. How likely it is that the structure of Europe’s economic-geographical system will change in the next decades?

Policy Responses to Urban Shrinkage: From Growth Thinking to Civic Engagement

Abstract More and more European cities are confronted with population decline in a structural sense. This development of “urban shrinkage” has different causes, but similar effects: the citys hardware, software and mindware deteriorate. In this paper, we explore and assess policy strategies to respond to urban shrinkage in a European context. Four strategies are identified: (1) trivializing shrinkage, (2) countering shrinkage, (3) accepting shrinkage and (4) utilizing shrinkage. We suggest that accepting shrinkage by improving the quality of life for the citys existing residents is the most suitable and sustainable strategy. Dealing with shrinkage is a complex urban governance process that asks for a mental transformation from growth to shrinkage as well as regional rather than local thinking. Moreover, due to the fiscal burden of shrinkage, city governments will be increasingly dependent on the willingness of citizens to help. Civic engagement, however, is not something that can be simply dictated. Therefore we conclude that the authorities of Europes shrinking cities should first enable their citizens to care for their community before asking them to do so.

Restructuring Europe's rustbelt: The case of the German Ruhrgebiet

With the enlargement of the European Union its “Rustbelt”, the mosaic of regions traditionally specialised in heavy industries such as coal and steel, will also be enlarged. The new member states in Eastern Europe have many regions that face industrial decline and need to be restructured. What can these traditional industrial areas learn from the case of the German Ruhrgebiet, one of Europe’s most prominent examples of regional industrial restructuring?

Making sense of place: from cold to warm city marketing

Purpose – This article seeks to explore the usefulness of city marketing as a method to attract new residents and firms from a geographical perspective.Design/methodology/approach – To answer the research question, the paper reviews relevant theoretical concepts, empirical data on migration flows and Dutch case examples.Findings – A geographical approach towards city marketing makes clear that residents and firms show spatial self‐preference and do not easily move. This insight questions the usefulness of cold city marketing aimed at attracting newcomers.Research limitations/implications – The article is largely based on Dutch migration data and cases. More detailed research on other countries is needed to be able to generalize.Practical implications – Local authorities should shift their focus from cold to warm city marketing: they should invest in existing residents and firms rather than in newcomers. To operationalise this approach, the literature on relationship marketing might be helpful.Originality/...

How to create a creative city? The viewpoints of Richard Florida and Jane Jacobs

Purpose – The paper aims to explore to what extent policy makers can create a “creative city”, that is, an urban environment capable of generating creativity, innovation and thus economic growth.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is set up as an interview with Richard Florida and his mentor Jane Jacobs, two of todays most famous specialists on urban development.Findings – The main conclusion from the double interview is that a creative city cannot be built from scratch; however, both Florida and Jacobs argue that it is still possible to build for the creative city.Research limitations/implications – The paper documents the viewpoints of just two urban specialists whose original views, however, have influenced and will influence the debate on creative cities.Practical implications – The interviewees in this paper offer illuminating insights and practical clues for policy makers wanting to contribute to the development of a creative city.Originality/value – This is the first double interview with Flor...

Governance in innovative cities and the importance of branding

Abstract Everywhere in the Western world we can see the rise of cities calling themselves ‘innovative cities’. In this paper we look at these cities from a governance perspective. Making use of insights from urban economics, we understand innovative cities as competitive urban areas that combine concentration, diversity, instability and especially a positive image. Case studies of three innovative hot spots – Austin (Texas), Øresund (Denmark/Sweden) and Manchester (UK) – suggest that local governments cannot plan urban innovativeness from scratch. We conclude, however, that policy-makers can increase the chance that innovation in cities emerges by giving chance a helping hand and by branding the city in the outside world.