Innovation Archives

Introducing MyPlaceMatters

November 6, 2019

3 min read

MyPlaceMatters: A One-Stop Resource for Place-Based Economic Development I am thrilled to announce the launch of a new website. MyPlaceMatters is a resource for anyone working in local and regional areas to develop the economy, create jobs and improve the quality of life. Where we live, work, invest, and grow affects who we are. It…

Supporting city and local government innovation

September 19, 2019

5 min read

City and local government authorities can be more innovative in the way they work, share data and stimulate local innovation. Characteristics of innovative local governments While there is no single pathway to success, there are characteristics that high-performing city and local governments share: First, innovative city and local government authorities make sure that very different…

Making places for innovation; lessons from Mexico City

September 12, 2019

6 min read

How local governments can support social and innovation through collaboration. While the national buzz around innovation in Australia appears to have somewhat subsided, there is growing evidence of the role local actors can play in stimulating innovation. Local innovation ecosystems nurture private and public innovation. National policy frameworks are important, but state and local initiatives…

Entrepreneurship|Sustainable Communities|Vibrant Economies

Growing WA through Innovation – A Response

September 2, 2016

14 min read

Growing WA through Innovation is a report of the Economics and Industry Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly. Released on 30 June 2016, it presents the Committee’s findings of its inquiry into the ways technological and service innovation can be fostered to expand and diversify the Western Australian economy. The report provides an extensive review of…

Business Environments|Entrepreneurship

Australian government scraps Repeal Day: Is business reform a political stunt?

February 8, 2016

3 min read

The Australian Government’s decision to its scrap Repeal Day (I’ve written about this before: here, here and here) initiative after two years raises some interesting questions: Does red-tape reduction and improvement in regulatory quality require a specific day or event? How can government manage a continuous regulatory reform process connected to broader ambitions such as…

Entrepreneurial Places|Entrepreneurship|Innovation|Public Policy|Regional Development

What Innovation Looks Like

November 13, 2015

7 min read

Innovation certainly is the thing these days. Seems like everyone’s talking about it, we all want it and we all think it’s a good thing for our economy to do and our government to support. Last week I attended an engaging session on innovation run by Deloitte. It was a very upbeat event and…

The Value of the Micro-Business Sector

November 12, 2015

5 min read

Small business is often touted as the engine of growth. But what of the smaller segment of this sector, the micro-business sector? A recent publication of the RSA caught my eye. Entitled ‘The Second Age of Small’ this report by Benedict Dellot (June 2015) considers the economic impact of micro businesses in the UK. There…

Book Reviews|Entrepreneurship|Innovation|Public Policy

Recipes for growth, democracy (entrepreneurship and innovation) in an increasingly integrated world economy

August 11, 2012

9 min read

BOOKS REVIEWED Dani Rodrik (2007) One economics, many recipes; globalization, institutions and economic growth, Princeton University Press, Princeton Dani Rodrik (2011) The globalization paradox; why markets, states and democracies can’t coexist, Oxford University Press, Oxford Dani Rodrik is the Rafiq Hariri Professor of International Political Economy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard…

Entrepreneurship|Innovation

AMEX pledges US$100-million for digital start-ups — in the US

November 9, 2011

1 min read

This article by Roger Cheng (CNET News, November 8, 2011) reports on American Express’s announcement that it will invest $100 million in startups that are designed to address mobile and online payments, security, reward and loyalty programs, and other forms of digital commerce. Rather than launch its own major initiatives in the way Visa and Google has, AMEX will support…

ICTs as an Enabler for Private Sector Development

October 27, 2011

4 min read

This October, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) its annual Information Economy report, which focused on the role of information and communications technology (ICT) in enabling private sector development: Information Economy Report 2011; ICTs as an Enabler for Private Sector Development (PSD). The report shows that the potential of leveraging ICTs to develop…

Public Policy

Promoting competitive industries in a high-growth country

October 1, 2011

2 min read

This interesting post from the World Bank’s blog on private sector development cites Ricardo Hausmann, Professor of Economic Development at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and Director of Harvard’s Center of International Development and Dani Rodrik, Professor of International Political Economy at the Kennedy School and their observations on India and its high levels…

Public Policy

Namibian PM highlights the role of innovation in Africa's development

September 16, 2011

1 min read

The Namibian newspaper on 30 August 2011 carried an article by the Namibian Prime Minister, Dr. Nahas Angula, on how to transform the African economy: Innovation, he says, “is the missing link in African development. African economic take-off can be enhanced if Africa can pay serious attention to innovation and technology. A national innovation system is a…

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