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Over the last two decades, the notion of institutional thickness has become a key reference for a large body of work that has sought to provide profound insights into the link between institutions and regional development. However, only few attempts have been made to reassess the concept, to improve its methodology, and to reflect on its empirical application. The aim of this article is to revise the original concept of institutional thickness. We draw on and seek to contribute to current work in economic geography and related disciplines on the role of organizations and institutions in regional development. We identify some crucial limitations and provide suggestions for how they can be addressed. It is argued that much can be gained by (1) explicitly elaborating on the relation between the organizational and institutional dimensions of thickness, (2) moving beyond overly static views on thickness, (3) developing a multiscalar approach to thickness, and (4) identifying features for assessing thickness in absolute and relative terms.

Researchers from different social sciences are increasingly interested in studying the role of institutions in regional development. Nevertheless, from the perspective of regional tourism development analysis, the role of institutions has been explored limitedly. Based on the institutional thickness approach, this study analyzed the role played by institutions in regional tourism development through a qualitative research procedure applied on a Latin American region. The study examined the institutional presence, the levels of interaction, the structures of domination and/or coalition patterns, and the common agendas in 28 institutions related to tourism in the region of Antioquia, Colombia. Results from this empirical analysis show that institutions play a decisive role in regional tourism development for reasons such as the allocation of economic resources, leadership, and interaction among stakeholders. Knowing these dynamics can be useful to boost better management and planning of tourism destinations throughout governance, coordination, and common agendas, and to enrich the debate on regional tourism development.

As a response to forest conflict, contemporary remapping refers to re-evaluations of resource values, new and diverse forms of governance among stakeholders, and compromises within patterns of land use that give greater emphasis to environmental and cultural priorities. This paper elaborates the processes of remapping by examining the role of institutional innovation in conflict resolution, with particular reference to the iconic Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia. After years of conflict and protest, peace in the Great Bear Rainforest was heralded by an interim agreement in 2006, with final ratification likely in 2016. Conceptually, a four-legged stakeholder model identifies the main institutional interests and their interactions through learning and bargaining. New forms of governance were created to bring the stakeholders together in constructive dialogue and then to reach and implement acceptable bargains. Analytically, the paper examines how this agreement has worked in practice by reflecting on the emergence of novel institutions that integrate the interests of key stakeholders. The discussion identifies six bilateral negotiations between: industrial and environmental interests; federal and provincial governments and aboriginal peoples; government and environmental interests; government and industry; industry and aboriginal peoples; and environmental groups and local communities. The remapping process has produced a thickening architecture of institutions that remain experimental even as they seek to promote sustainability, resilience and legitimacy.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to show the relevance of territorial innovation systems approach for non-central regions' development strategies. The research made allowed to identify actions of collective efficiency to strengthen endogenous capacity for regional innovation, and also to detect some institutional weaknesses that inhibit the innovation dynamics in a particular rural region (Tagus Valley). Design/methodology/approach - The research followed an interpretive case study, of explanatory type. Data collecting method comprised semi-structured face-to-face interviews with business agents and local government members, direct observation of innovation activities and documentary analysis. Statistical methods to analyse the firms' innovation behaviour, as well as owners and managers' perceptions, were also used in order to improve the trustworthiness of the research. Findings - The results show that innovation is positively associated to a diverse set of institutional factors that shape a territorially embedded innovation system, in which the firms' innovation activity is chiefly based on localized learning processes. Moreover, a path of smart and creative diversification area is detected, but there are substantial differences between firms belonging to agro-food supply chain. While food industries and wineries show very interesting levels of investment in innovation activities and external knowledge synergies, farmers/producers depend greatly from producers' organizations. Research limitations/implications - Given the absence of generalizability and some speculative argumentation, further research needs to be done, especially about the critical role of higher education institutions to promote innovation. Practical implications - The paper provides empirical insights about the role of actors belonging to the governance layer inherent to the territorial innovation system in discussion. Originality/value - The paper fulfils an identified need to systematize institutional factors able to affect non-central regions innovation.

One of the constituent elements of the industrial district is the existence of local and regional institutions which offer information and support services to the firms based in the district. These institutions, as has been shown in the literature on industrial districts, in addition to representing an important component of social capital, can play a key role in improving the joint operation of the companies in the district. The aim of this paper is, consequently, to analyze the food industry districts and the institutions which support this industry nationally. With that aim in mind, the analysis is undertaken from a regional perspective that allows us to assess, on the one hand, the degree of proximity between districts and institutions and, on the other hand, the role played by the latter as knowledge generators. The results obtained show that, in general, the support institutions tend to be located in the vicinity of the industrial districts specialized in the aforementioned sector. It likewise becomes clear that the training offer aimed at meeting the training needs of the industry is greater in these specialized environments than in others where this production model does not prevail. Such results confirm the importance of institutions in business agglomerations shaped as industrial districts.

KEEBLE D., LAWSON C., MOORE B. and WILKINSON F. (1999) Collective learning processes, networking and 'institutional thickness' in the Cambridge region, Reg. Studies 33 , 319-332 . The paper investigates the nature and extent of regional collective learning processes and networking by innovative, technology based, small and medium sized enterprises(SMEs)in the Cambridge region. It highlights the importance of socio-cultural preconditions for learning involving the University of Cambridge, and documents the significance of firm spin-offs, inter-firm and organization networking, and local scientific and managerial recruitment, as dynamic collective learning processes. It also, however, identifies the complementary importance of wider national and global networks for SME innovation inputs, research collaboration and professional staff recruitment. Finally, it assesses the relevance of the concept of 'institutional thickness' in evaluating firms' experience of regional support structures and services. KEEBLE D., LAWSON C., MOORE B. et WILKINSON F. (1999) Les processus d'apprentissage collectif, la constitution de réseaux et l'appui institutionnel dans la région de Cambridge, Reg. Studies 33 , 319-332 . Cet article cherchè a examiner le caractère et la portée des processus régionaux d'apprentissage collectif et la constitution de réseaux par les PME (petites et moyennes entreprises)de pointe situées dans la région de Cambridge. L'article souligne l'importance des préalables socio-culturelles à l'apprentissage concernant l'Université de Cambridge, et décrit l'importance des retombe ´es des entreprises, la constitution de re ´seaux d'entreprises et d'organisations, et l'embauche local de techniciens et de cadres, comme processus d'apprentissage collectif dynamiques. Qui plus est, on identifie l'importance complémentaire des réseaux nationaux et internationaux plus vastes en faveur de l'innovation, de la recherche en collaboration et de l'embauche des professionnels pour les PME. Pour conclure, on évalue le rapport entre la notion d'appui institutionnel et l'expérience des entreprises quant aux réseaux de soutien et d'assistance technique régionaux. KEEBLE D., LAWSON C., MOORE B. und WILKINSON F. (1999) Kollektive Lernprozesse, Vernetzung und 'Dichte des Institutionenbestandes' im Cambridger Gebiet, Reg. Studies 33 , 319-332 . Dieser Aufsatz untersucht Natur und Ausmaß regionaler kollektiver Lernprozesse und Vernetzung durch innovative, auf Technologie beruhende kleine und mittlere Unternehmen (small and medium-sized enterprises=SMEs) im Umkreis von Cambridge. Er wirft ein Schlaglicht auf die Bedeutung sozialkultureller Vorbedingungen fu ¨r die Aneignung von Kenntnissen, an der die Universita ¨t Cambridge beteiligt ist, und belegt jene, welche Firmenbeitra ¨ge, Vernetzung von Firmen und Organisationen, sowie Rekruitierung von wissenschaftlichem und leitendem Personal am Orte als dynamische kollektive Lernprozesses leisten. Er stellt jedoch auch die komplimenta ¨re Bedeutung heraus, welche weiter gefaßte Netzwerke auf Landes-und globaler Ebene fu ¨r Innovationsaufwand, Zusammenarbeit bei Forschungsvorhaben und der Rekrutierung professionellem Personals fu ¨r kleine und mittlere Betriebe haben. Schließich beurteilt der Aufsatz die Relevanz des Begriffes 'Dichte des Bestandes an Institutionen' bei der Bewertung von Firmenerfahrungen mit regionalen Unterstu ¨tzungsstrukturen und-diensten.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show the relevance of territorial innovation systems approach for non-central regions’ development strategies. The research made allowed to identify actions of collective efficiency to strengthen endogenous capacity for regional innovation, and also to detect some institutional weaknesses that inhibit the innovation dynamics in a particular rural region (Tagus Valley). Design/methodology/approach – The research followed an interpretive case study, of explanatory type. Data collecting method comprised semi-structured face-to-face interviews with business agents and local government members, direct observation of innovation activities and documentary analysis. Statistical methods to analyse the firms’ innovation behaviour, as well as owners and managers’ perceptions, were also used in order to improve the trustworthiness of the research. Findings – The results show that innovation is positively associated to a diverse set of institutional factors that shape a territorially embedded innovation system, in which the firms’ innovation activity is chiefly based on localized learning processes. Moreover, a path of smart and creative diversification area is detected, but there are substantial differences between firms belonging to agro-food supply chain. While food industries and wineries show very interesting levels of investment in innovation activities and external knowledge synergies, farmers/producers depend greatly from producers’ organizations. Research limitations/implications – Given the absence of generalizability and some speculative argumentation, further research needs to be done, especially about the critical role of higher education institutions to promote innovation. Practical implications – The paper provides empirical insights about the role of actors belonging to the governance layer inherent to the territorial innovation system in discussion. Originality/value – The paper fulfils an identified need to systematize institutional factors able to affect non-central regions innovation.

Since 1970 the Saldanha Bay region on the West Coast of the Western Cape Province has been high on South Africa's national development agenda. The region has been struggling for years to meet the preconditions for economic take-off. In this analysis the Saldanha Bay region is positioned in the contexts of global competition among steel-producing countries, South Africa's national development plan and the Greater Cape Town functional region. The aim is to explain the nature and extent of the relationship between a single secondary industry - ArcelorMittal Saldanha - and the economic development of the larger Saldanha region. Following a brief introduction and background to the Saldanha Bay region, the evolutionary economic geography (EEG) approach and the role of institutions in the development of regions are reviewed. Saldanha Steel (ArcelorMittal), the pioneer industrial firm, is analysed by using a mixed-method approached, where semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey are the main research instruments. The contribution of Saldanha Steel to regional development is explored.

In recent years, the 'regional scale' within the European Union (EU) has become more central within academic and policy debates. In particular, there has been an increased focus upon the importance of so-called 'institutional thickness' for regional development within the EU. Furthermore, the fact that in several European countries, regionalist political parties have made significant electoral gains has ensured that the 'regional question' in Europe has become even more prevalent. This paper explores the linkages between institutions and regionalist political parties by focusing upon the situation in Italy where the resurgence of political regionalism, centred on the Lega Nord (LN) or Northern League political party, has been particularly strong. In particular, the paper focuses upon the development of the LN in a particular province of Northern Italy, Varese. This section explores the ways in which the LN has developed institutionally and electorally and indeed whether the party has been able to develop a specific political sub-culture to replace the previous one associated with the Christian Democrat (DC) party, which was the main party in Varese before the landmark changes that took place in Italian politics in the early 1990s.

We argue that the search for rural regimes in particular localities can be usefully advanced through the deployment of a sensitive and suitably nuanced conceptualization of institutional thickness. Empirical validation of this theoretical framework with reference to Languedoc viticulture offers substantial evidence of the interdependency between regime building maintenance and stability, and local institutional integrity. The theoretical framework developed here, based on the notions of consensus and concrete institutions, also provides an analytically rigorous approach for understanding the complex rescaling of the political economy of rural governance, not least by offering some indication of the scalar rationale for consensus compatibility and partnership building between elites situated at different politico-geographic scales. We contend that an understanding of this shared logic of action among local and extra-local administrative and political elites is crucial to the restructuring process unfolding in European rural regions.