Social Innovations, Institutional Change and Economic Performance: Making Sense of Structural Adjustment Processes in Industrial Sectors, Regions and Societies

This book examines the nature of social innovation processes which determine the economic and social performance of nations, regions, industrial sectors and organizations.

The current transformation of the world economy underlines the importance of systemic adjustment capacity for the long-term success of industrial economies. The expert contributors outline a theory of social innovation which differentiates between incremental and radical change processes, and suggests areas where policy makers can facilitate proactive changes. Case studies highlight the various rigidities of structural adjustment processes, the economic importance of systemic adjustment capacity, and the challenges of social innovation and structural change in different societies, regions and sectors.

An important contribution to the emerging research on social innovations, this book offers invaluable insights for all decision makers struggling with structural adjustment challenges. As such, it will prove essential reading for scholars and students focussing on social and economic innovation and change processes, national and regional development, and economic competitiveness and growth. National, regional, sectoral and organizational policymakers and strategists will also find much to interest them within this book.

Edited by Timo J. Hämäläinen, Sitra Fellow, the Finnish Innovation Fund, Finland and Risto Heiskala, Institute for Advanced Social Research, IASR, University of Tampere, Finland