Asheim B. T., Lawton Smith H. and Oughton C. Regional innovation systems: theory, empirics and policy, Regional Studies. Interest in regional innovation systems has grown significantly over the past three decades driven partly by advances in theoretical analysis, partly by the growing interest in innovation as a source of competitive advantage, and partly by the need for new policies to address regional inequalities and divergence. This article explores the elements and characteristics that exemplify the regional innovation systems approach. It provides an appraisal and synthesis of the regional innovation systems paradigm and aims to shed light on a number of areas where theoretical, empirical and policy-based questions remain unanswered. It outlines and assesses the major strands in recent theoretical and empirical debates and discusses how they might be developed to contribute to the further advancement of the regional innovation systems literature. Three interrelated questions form the key themes around which the article is structured. The first concerns the very nature of the system itself. The second concerns the boundaries of industrial districts, clusters and regional innovation systems, and the role of cognitive frontiers, knowledge transfer and learning. The third relates to the central role of knowledge and learning in clusters and regional innovation systems and in particular to the role and functioning of the labour market. These three cross-cutting themes separately and collectively provide new theoretical, empirical and policy insights; they also raise other questions which are intended to stimulate much future research. Asheim B. T., Lawton Smith H. and Oughton C. 区域创新系统：理论&# 12289;实践以及政策，区 495;研究。 对区域创新系统的关&# 27880;在过去的 30 年内得到显著提高，&# 36825;部分归因于理论分 512;的进步，也由于创ਫ 2;是竞争优势的源头， 同时也基于新政策强&# 35843;区域不公平以及区 495;差异的需求。本文್ 1;察了对区域创新系统 方法进行分析的要素&# 20197;及特征。文章通过 545;区域创新系统范式௚ 0;评价以及综合分析为 理论、实践以及政策&# 39046;域做出相应的贡献 290;研究概述并评价了௤ 6;前理论及实践研究中 主要的分支，讨论了&# 20182;们在区域创新系统 740;究中的下一步发展ਬ 1;向。文章围绕三个理 论核心展开。首先考&# 34385;系统本身的性质。 854;次考虑产业区、集ೃ 6;以及区域创新系统的 边界，认知前沿、知&# 35782;转换以及学习过程 340;作用。第三是知识ߎ 2;学习在集群及区域创 新系统尤其是劳动力&# 24066;场职能中的核心作 992;。上述三类跨界的ߒ 7;题各自或者整合地提 供了新的理论、实践&# 20197;及政策视角，同时 063;指出未来研究中需ව 1;注意的问题。 区域创新系统 产业区 集群 知识与学习 劳动力市场 Asheim B. T., Lawton Smith H. et Oughton C. Les systemes d'innovation regionaux: la theorie, l'empiricisme et la politique, Regional Studies. L'interet pour les systemes d'innovation regionaux a augmente sensiblement pendant les trois dernieres decennies, conduit en partie par les progres dans l'analyse theorique, en partie par l'interet croissant pour l'innovation comme source de l'avantage competitif, et en partie par la necessite des politiques nouvelles pour aborder les ecarts et les divergences regionaux. Cet article examine les elements et les caracteristiques qui illustrent les facons d'aborder les systemes d'innovation regionaux. On evalue et synthetise le paradigme des systemes d'innovation regionaux et eclaircit un nombre de questions theoriques, empiriques et de politiques aux...

We analyse the corporate governance of professional football clubs operating in England's Premier and Football Leagues. Good corporate governance is essential if clubs are to be managed effectively and to survive in the difficult economic circumstances surrounding the football industry. The past couple of years have been especially testing, as Football League clubs have had to deal with the aftermath of the collapse of the ITV digital contract. Our analysis reveals that while there are some noticeable improvements in governance standards, many clubs would benefit from following best practice guidelines on information disclosure, the appointment of directors, board composition, induction and training of directors, risk management and consultation with stakeholders. Despite improvement in some areas over the past three years, standards of corporate governance in football clubs are significantly below those of listed companies as a whole and there is thus considerable need for improvement. 1Corporate governance in the UK is regulated by Company Law and by codes of corporate governance such as The Combined Code (CC) and The OECD Principles . Whereas compliance with company law is obligatory, compliance with best practice codes of corporate governance, such as the CC, is voluntary in the sense that companies listed on the London Stock Exchange must either comply with the code or else explain any instance of non-compliance in their Annual Report. The rationale for this self-regulatory process is that good corporate governance brings benefits to companies in terms of engendering the trust of investors and improving corporate performance. Firms will therefore find it in their own best interests to comply with the code unless there is a good reason not to do so which can be explained to shareholders in the company's statement of compliance. Since the CC was first introduced, the degree of compliance, as measured by the proportion of companies adopting best practice, has increased considerably, representing a welcome improvement in governance standards.In this paper we present results from our annual survey of FA Premier and Football League clubs, and our analysis of corporate governance statements published by listed clubs, to provide an assessment of the state of corporate governance of professional football clubs. On the basis of this analysis we make a number of recommendations for how the corporate governance of professional football clubs might be improved in the future.

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This paper examines the nature of economies of scale in the small firm sector and aims to provide new insight into the economic efficiency of small firm industrial districts. The theoretical analysis identifies the role played by collective external economies of scale that are realised through cooperation over input activities. Using game theory it is shown that cooperation can emerge both as a result of rational profit maximising behaviour and as a result of institutional and cultural environments that encourage cooperation and trust. The implications for industrial policy are discussed in the concluding section.

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Professional football clubs in England face serious financial and operational difficulties and challenges. Our survey reveals that less than a quarter of football clubs responding had an internal audit committee. Even where clubs had an audit committee, almost one third of those clubs report there being no regular board review of risk assessment reports. The need to undertake risk assessment is now accepted as part of good corporate governance. The collapse of the ITV Digital agreement, which led to Football League clubs losing significant revenue, forcing some into administration, simply illustrates the reasoning behind the practice (following the Turnbull Report). Football clubs (and the companies that own them) need improved corporate governance practice, financial planning and risk assessment procedures; 76 percent of clubs responded that they would benefit from a guide to good corporate governance and 80 percent that they would find advice on Company Law useful.

Advances in information and communication technology (ICT) have provided a platform for the introduction and diffusion of a range of financial technologies that have transformed the financial sector. This study analyses the diffusion of financial technology (fintech) and its interaction with financial inclusion and living standards (GDP per capita). We consider the determinants and effects of technology diffusion in financial services and identify two possible transmission mechanisms from the financial sector to GDP per capita -a fintech diffusion channel and a financial inclusion channel. We specify the interactions between these two channels and their relationship with income per capita. Our empirical analysis focuses on the diffusion of two enabling fintech innovations: ATMs and associated digital networks; and mobile phones and payments systems. The relationships between fintech diffusion, financial inclusion and GDP per capita are estimated using a panel data set for up to 137 countries over the period 1991-2015 using both cross section and panel techniques, including an error correction model that distinguishes short-and long-run effects. A key finding is that fintech diffusion and financial inclusion have long-run effects on GDP per capita over and above their short-run impact and the effects of investment in fixed and human capital.