New Regional Development Paradigms: Volume 2, New Regions--Concepts, Issues, and Practices (Contributions in Economics and Economic History)

Covering experiences from transitional, industrialized, and developing economies, this timely book emphasizes the critical prerequisites for effective regional planning. These prerequisites include sustainable institutions, social mechanisms, trust relationships, leadership, and public-private sector partnerships. Questioning many conventional approaches, the book considers the changing context in which regional planning now occurs. Exploring globalization, regions straddling international borders, the position of transitional economies, decentralization and empowerment of local governments, regional competitiveness, mega-urban regions, and new forms of regional governments this work covers much ground. Using such examples as the Arizona-Sonora corridor, the book specifically considers cross-border regions, or trade corridors, including the need to include economic complementarity and cultural differences in development policy. Examining the need to redefine regional planning, the book concludes with innovative strategies from China, Thailand, Japan, and the Philippines as well as the Americas.

With contributions from both academe and practitioners, the volume shows that regional development planning involves integrated physical, economic, and social planning and that regional development planning has to address new regional forms, regional competition, and local governance. Based on fully revised papers given at a United Nations Centre for Regional Development conference, the book illustrates the changing context in which regional planning is now conducted, thereby providing a useful resource for planners and academics.

DAVID W. EDGINGTON is Associate Professor of Geography at the University of British Columbia./e His research centers on Japanese urban and regional restructuring and Japan's trade and overseas investments. His most recent books include Planning for Cities and Regions in Japan (1994) and Japan and the West: The Perception Gap (1998).

ANTONIO L. FERNANDEZ is Coordinator for the Training Office of the United Nations Centre for Regional Development. He has held various positions at the UNCRD and the Economic Development Foundation in Philippines and, as a UNDP consultant, assisted the Philippine government in environmental planning and management.

CLAUDIA HOSHINO is Coordinator of the UNCRD Project Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. She has conducted research projects in the fields of urban and metropolitan land management, housing, environmental management, transportation, and disaster management. Her main field of research is local and regional development in the context of decentralization and globalization trends in Latin America.

DAVID W. EDGINGTON is Associate Professor of Geography at the University of British Columbia./e His research centers on Japanese urban and regional restructuring and Japan's trade and overseas investments. His most recent books include Planning for Cities and Regions in Japan (1994) and Japan and the West: The Perception Gap (1998).

ANTONIO L. FERNANDEZ is Coordinator for the Training Office of the United Nations Centre for Regional Development. He has held various positions at the UNCRD and the Economic Development Foundation in Philippines and, as a UNDP consultant, assisted the Philippine government in environmental planning and management.

CLAUDIA HOSHINO is Coordinator of the UNCRD Project Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. She has conducted research projects in the fields of urban and metropolitan land management, housing, environmental management, transportation, and disaster management. Her main field of research is local and regional development in the context of decentralization and globalization trends in Latin America.