More animated adventures on the streets of Friendlyville with Finley and his friends Dex the dump truck, DJ the bulldozer, Gorby the dustbin lorry, Isabelle the ice cream lorry, Jesse the tow truck, Miguel the post van, and Scooty the school bus.

Clusters have become a key focus of urban and regional policy in advanced economies as regional specialisation in particular industries has come to be regarded as advantageous in the context of debates about globalization and the knowledge economy. In particular, spatial proximity between associated firms and organisations facilities is claimed to stimulate processes of innovation and learning. Consequently, governments have promoted dynamic clusters as a means of generating competitive advantage in particular cities and regions. In this collection, these claims are critically assessed by drawing upon the work of leading specialists from Western Europe and North America. Going beyond the celebrated 'hot-spots' of economic development, the book draws upon evidence from a broader range of cities and regions to help fill some important gaps in our knowledge of how clusters operate within the contemporary global economy. Cluster dynamics are situated in time and space; interrogating both how firms, organisations and actors within clusters adapt to changes over time, and how clusters are embedded within broader spatial divisions of labour at regional, national and international scales. This book was previously published as a special issue of the journal Urban Studies.

The British state has long been regarded as one of the most stable and centralised political structures in the world, and devolution represents one of the most significant changes to its fabric in 300 years. To date research on devolution in the UK has largely focused on core public policy areas such as health, economic development and social welfare. Work on transport has been somewhat limited, despite its increased policy prominence in recent years. This book presents a thorough academic investigation into the impact of devolution on the formulation and delivery of transport policy in the UK. Using detailed interviews with key policy makers, transport providers, business organisations and user groups, the authors draw upon concepts and ideas from across the social sciences to inform their analysis. The picture that emerges is distinctly mixed: there are elements of both convergence and divergence in the strategies and policies adopted by the devolved administrations, and marked variations in the overall performance of these administrations in transport are uncovered. Ultimately, though, devolution on its own is an insufficient basis for improved policy performance what matters is the generation of enough strategic capacity to promote real change for the better.

About the authors
Danny MacKinnon is Senior Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Aberdeen.
Jon Shaw is Reader in Human Geography and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Transport at the University of Plymouth.
Iain Docherty is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Management at the University of Glasgow.
* This book presents a thorough academic investigation into the impact of devolution onthe formulation and delivery of transport policy in the UK.
* The authors draw upon concepts and ideas from across the social sciences to inform their analysis by using detailed interviews with key policy makers, transport providers, business organisations and user groups.

In the context of great economic turmoil and uncertainty, the emergent conflict between continued globalisation and growing economic nationalism means that a geographical economic perspective has never been so important. An Introduction to Economic Geography guides students through the key debates of this vibrant area, exploring the range of ideas and approaches that invigorate the wider discipline. This third edition includes new chapters on finance, cities and the digital economy, consumption and the environment. Underpinned by the themes of globalisation, uneven development and place, the text conveys the diversity of contemporary economic geography and explores the social and spatial effects of global economic restructuring. It combines a critical geographical perspective on the changing economic landscape with an appreciation of contemporary themes such as neoliberalism, financialisation, innovation and the growth of new technologies. An Introduction to Economic Geography is an essential textbook for undergraduate students taking courses in Economic Geography, Globalisation Studies and more broadly in Human Geography. It will also be of much interest to those in Planning, Business and Management Studies and Economics.

In the context of great economic turmoil and uncertainty, the emergent conflict between continued globalisation and growing economic nationalism means that a geographical economic perspective has never been so important. An Introduction to Economic Geography guides students through the key debates of this vibrant area, exploring the range of ideas and approaches that invigorate the wider discipline. This third edition includes new chapters on finance, cities and the digital economy, consumption and the environment. Underpinned by the themes of globalisation, uneven development and place, the text conveys the diversity of contemporary economic geography and explores the social and spatial effects of global economic restructuring. It combines a critical geographical perspective on the changing economic landscape with an appreciation of contemporary themes such as neoliberalism, financialisation, innovation and the growth of new technologies. An Introduction to Economic Geography is an essential textbook for undergraduate students taking courses in Economic Geography, Globalisation Studies and more broadly in Human Geography. It will also be of much interest to those in Planning, Business and Management Studies and Economics.