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PINCH S. and HENRY N. (1999) Paul Krugman's geographical economics, industrial clustering and the British motor sport industry, Reg. Studies 33 , 815-827. Paul Krugman is one of a growing band of economists who have discovered the importance of the region in stimulating national economic competitiveness. Whilst the early reactions to his ideas by geographers tended to be hostile, there have recently been calls by geographers for a more considered view of his concepts. This paper examines the utility of Krugman's ideas for explaining the geographical cluster of small firms constituted by the British motor sport industry. It is argued that Krugman's emphasis upon accidents of history and external economies of scale provides only partial insights into the reasons for the evolution and maintenance of this industrial agglomeration. Greater insights are provided by an approach which focuses upon the dissemination of knowledge through the concept of untraded interdependencies. PINCH S. et HENRY N. (1999) L'economie geographique d'apres Paul Krugman, l'agglomeration industrielle et l'industrie du sport automobile en Grande-Bretagne, Reg. Studies 33 , 815-827. Paul Krugman fait partie d'un groupe d'economistes de plus en plus nombreux qui ont decouvert l'importance de la region en tant que catalyseur quant a la competitivite economique nationale. Tandis que les premieres reactions des geographes a ses idees avaient tendance a etre hostiles, plus recemment un avis plus reflechi de ses idees a ete reclame. Cet article cherche a examiner l'utilite des idees de Krugman pour expliquer l'agglomeration geographique des petites entreprises qui constituent l'industrie du sport automobile en Grande-Bretagne. On affirme que l'accent que met Krugman sur les effets ponctuels et les economies d'echelle externes ne donne que des apercus partiels sur l'evolution et le maintien de cette agglomeration industrielle. Une facon qui porte sur la diffusion des connaissances par l'idee des interdependances non-commerciales donne des apercus plus clairs. PINCH S. und HENRY N. (1999) Paul Krugmans geographische Wirtschaftswissenschaft, industrielle Ballung und die britische Autorennsportindustrie, Reg. Studies 33 , 815-827. Paul Krugman gehort zu der immer zahlreicher werdenden Schar der Wirtschaftswissenschaftler, welche die Bedeutung der Region bei der Belebung der wirtschaftlichen Wettbewerbsfahigkeit eines Landes entdeckt haben. Obschon anfanglich die Reaktion der Geographen auf seine Ideen meist feindlicher Natur waren, gab es in jungster Zeit unter ihnen Aufrufe zu abwagenderer Betrachtung seiner Vorstellungen. Dieser Aufsatz untersucht die Nutzlichkeit der krugmanschen Ideen zur Erklarung der geographischen Ballung kleiner Firmen, welche die britische Autorennsportindustrie bilden. Es wird die Ansicht vertreten, dass Krugmans Betonung historischer Zufalle und ausserlichen Einsparungen durch gesteigerte Produktivitat nur teilweise Einsichten in Grunde fur Entwicklung und Fortbestand dieser industriellen Ballung liefert. Vertiefte Einsichten ...

The authors consider the insights into the concept of institutional thickness provided by the industrial cluster located in southern England commonly referred to as ‘Motor Sport Valley’. It is argued that, although Amin and Thrift's original formulation of the concept of institutional thickness was comprehensive in scope, subsequent debate has focused around a somewhat restricted definition—essentially that of overt regionally based public, or quasi-public, institutions. The success of Motor Sport Valley in the absence of such infrastructure points to other sources of institutional strength and highlights the fact that all economic systems are constituted and mediated through a variety of types of institutional structure. The crucial issue when considering economic development, therefore, is not whether economically successful regions contain sources of institutional thickness, but rather the precise nature of the institutions in the area (and those influencing it from the outside) and their relationship with economic growth.

Purpose -This paper aims to examine the extent to which urban social enterprises (SEs) have diversified their funding sources and shifted towards loans and development finance in recent years. The paper seeks to consider the underlying reasons for a limited demand for loans by comparing two theoretical perspectives on SE development. The concept of "social bricolage" implies SEs do not seek conventional business loans or equity finance, because they survive in resource poor environments by improvising and re-using redundant capital. A second evolutionary approach implies that SE financing will be dominated by a reliance on habits and practices learnt from the contexts in which social entrepreneurs have operated. Design/methodology/approach -The paper is based on analysis of interviews with 40 SEs in four English cities. Findings -The paper finds a limited degree of change and scant evidence of local decentralisation in social enterprises' financial contexts. It argues that both conceptual approaches offer important insights into the causes of the low level of demand for development finance by emphasising the importance of practical and improvised financial management. This is an adaptive response to uncertainty but is also a manifestation of SEs' inherited capabilities in public and charitable finance.Research limitations/implications -The research is based on a relatively small sample of social enterprises in central and deprived urban areas. The financial practices of social enterprises in other types of environment also require examination. Practical implications -It is unrealistic to expect the majority of SEs to secure conventional loan finance, instead they require "softer" finance and intensive support from intermediaries. Originality/value -The paper makes a novel empirical contribution by revealing social enterprises' views and recent experiences with funding. Its approach allows an intensive examination of key financial issues. It makes an original theoretical contribution by seeking to apply, develop, and evaluate two theoretical perspectives on the form and practices of social enterprises.