Competitiveness of southern metropolitan areas: The role of new economy policies

Abstract

The concept of regional competitiveness is increasingly popular among academics and policymakers as indicated by reports that rank or grade regional economies. Competitiveness in these studies generally is measured by growth rates in population, employment, and per capita income. This paper explores the relationships between New Economy development policies (innovation, entrepreneurship, and human capital development) and changes in competitiveness outcomes for Southern metropolitan areas. Our results suggest that inputs have different associations with regional competitiveness outcomes. Regional employment growth rates are positively associated with innovation and entrepreneurship while changes in per capita income are related to measures of human capital. © Southern Regional Science Association 2011.