Political and economic changes in the world are increasing the importance of region-specific policy, and with it the importance of spatial economic research. Global production chains are fragmenting and specializing in specific regions, while economic activity is becoming increasingly concentrated. This is what Mark Thissen, professor by special appointment in the Department of Spatial Economics, states in his inaugural lecture.
These trends lead not only to more efficient production but also to the creation of powerful positions for very large companies, with spatial and sector-specific economies of scale within these global production chains playing a decisive role. The result is heterogeneous regional and sector-specific economic growth, reinforced by strategic trade policy and the pursuit of European autonomy. Economic growth and the resilience of the Dutch economy are therefore increasingly determined by regional earning capacity and region-specific policies and investments.
