Evaluating State-Sponsored Economic Development Models: Comparing Property-led Initiatives in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Keywords: Regional Development, Scotland,
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

The aim of this research is to critically assess the performance of government-supported initiatives in economic regeneration, with particular reference to two contrasting development models adopted in Lanarkshire, Scotland: the Lanarkshire Enterprise Zone and the Strathclyde Business Park. The first is an “Enterprise Zone” a concept that represents national and local policy support for economic development within a specific area and is driven by government policy and money. The second, a “Business Park,” generally refers to single-use employment location by corporations that have been created for a unique set of operations, is based within a geographic context, and has evolved from predominantly office, research, or industry-focused development goals. In addition, business parks are typically located away from city centers and are privately funded though the land might be publicly held. They are popular policy initiatives, especially in developing countries, yet we do not have enough research on how these two initiatives work and what explains their different outcomes/impacts. The research makes use of two detailed case studies and sets of primary data, as well as interviews with key actors in the projects, in providing in-depth accounts of the development and performance of these projects. The development and performance of the initiatives in the development of the regional economy are considered within the context of institutional approaches to economic geography. The comparison is especially valuable as both are in the same Scottish Region so the data will enable a true compare/contrast evaluation.