The aging and migration megatrends and their impact on spatial - regional and local - labor market performance is the core theme of this book, and thus together define its scope and focus. The contributions provide an overview of key aging and migration issues in various countries together with analyses of their varied impacts on regional labor markets. Systematic database research and related empirical analyses are used to map out the complex and dynamic nature of these trends, while cutting-edge economic and modeling techniques are used to analyze them. In closing, the book critically reviews and assesses selected policy measures designed to cope with the effects of aging and migration on regional labor markets.

This important book takes a critical view on regional industry clusters, in particular their identification and formation, and the policies which help create and support them. The distinguished international contributors comprehensively discuss the theoretical and empirical issues concerning clusters and cluster policy from a regional economic perspective. Based on a broad range of methods, the authors derive results about the existence and structure of regional industrial clusters and assess their contribution to the development of regions. As a whole, the book examines the hyperbole that often surrounds clusters by employing sound scientific evidence and rigorous analysis. Academics and advanced students of regional science, regional economics and economic geography will find the academic discussion of spatial concentrations of economic activities to be of much interest. Policymakers will also appreciate the critical approach taken towards the currently fashionable cluster policy.

Das Buch untersucht die fundamentale Beziehung, die zwischen Arbeitslosigkeit und Entlohnung auf regionaler Ebene besteht. Dazu wird ein theoretisches Modell entwickelt, das weitere Einflusse, insbesondere zu Innovation und Strukturwandel, integriert. Vorgestellt werden theoretische Analysen zur Identifikation von Kausalbeziehungen zwischen den Variablen sowie empirische Ergebnisse vor allem zum Effekt der Arbeitslosigkeit auf den Lohn. Die dabei verwendeten oekonometrischen Methoden werden eingehend diskutiert. Wirtschaftspolitische Schlussfolgerungen zur Foerderung des Strukturwandels und zu den Ursachen der Arbeitslosigkeit beschliessen die Darstellung.