Pt. 1. Macroeconomics of innovation -- pt. 2. Institutional matrixes -- pt. 3. Spaces of innovation.

Despite the fast catching-up in ICT diffusion experienced by most EU countries in the last few years, information technologies have so far delivered little productivity gains in Europe. In the second half of the past decade, the growth contributions from ICT capital rose in six EU countries only (the UK, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Ireland and Greece). Quite unlike the United States, this has not generally been associated to higher labour or total factor productivity growth rates, the only exceptions being Ireland and Greece. Particularly worrisome, the large countries in Continental Europe (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) showed stagnating or mildly declining growth contributions from ICT capital, together with definite declines in TFP growth compared to the first half of the 1990s. It looks like that the celebrated "Solow paradox" on the lack of correlation between ICT investment and productivity growth has fled the US to migrate to Europe.

What is the 'new economy'? Where is it? How does it differ from the 'old economy'? How does the 'new economy' relate to issues such as the nature of work, social inclusion and exclusion? Geographies of the New Economy explores the meaning of the 'new economy' at the global scale from the perspective of advanced post-socialist and emerging economies. Drawing on evidence from regions around the world, the book debates the efficacy of the widely used concept of the ‘new economy’ and examines its socio-spatial consequences. This book is important reading for policy-makers, academics and students of geography, sociology, urban studies, economics, planning and policy studies.

'. . . this is a stimulating collection that advances thinking on the post-bust digital economy in a measured and scholarly approach. . . The book should be read by those interested in ICT industry dynamics and how a remarkable historical snapshot is starting to be understood.' - Jonathan Sapsed, Technovation 'I commend this book, in the spirit of Keith Pavitt, to all those who wish to understand, to appreciate and to criticize the "New Economy" which now engulfs all our lives.' - From the foreword by Christopher Freeman, Science and Technology Policy Research (SPRU), University of Sussex, UK and Maastricht University, The Netherlands This book investigates the implications of digital technologies on the industrial and business dynamics of modern economies. In-depth studies analyse how deep-rooted work practices of the Old Economy have been dramatically challenged when confronted with the entrepreneurial wave of the New Economy.

Europe‘s economy is under strain due to lagging productivity growth, population ageing, the difficulties of adjustment in an enlarged European Union, and the challenges of globalization. In comparison with America, rates of growth of GDP per capita and labour productivity growth are anaemic, raising questions about the viability of a distinct Europ

This book attempts to answer the question: "How can Europe 2020, the EU's new strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, lead to a stronger social EU with less poverty and greater social cohesion?" Examined in depth are achieving the EU's ambitious social objectives to lift at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and exclusion by 2020 and the Union's four other mutually reinforcing targets. A key objective of the book is to take a critical look at and draw lessons from the past, 2000-2010 Lisbon Strategy. Another important objective is to explore the format and role of EU coordination and cooperation in the social field in the new EU governance framework, in a context marked by slow recovery after the global economic crisis. Finally, the book also makes proposals for the further reinforcement of this coordination and cooperation and for the improvement of the different instruments available at EU, national and sub-national levels.

The politics of international trade have changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Advances in technology have spurred a new kind of 'trade' involving transfers of components and materials across borders but within firms. Trade in services, foreign direct investment and sales by affiliates of foreign-owed companies have grown more rapidly than trade in goods, making national rules and regulations more significant barriers to trade. The effects of 'non-trade' policies on trade have engaged new actors in trade politics, not least in the European Union (EU). The emergence of a more active bloc of developing countries alongside a vibrant international civil society, including environmental and consumer groups and ministries, have made trade politics increasingly lively, complex, and challenging for the EU. Meanwhile, the World Trade Organization has become not only a primary focus for EU trade policy but also a lightning rod for protest, a powerful 'legaliser' of trade diplomacy, and an arena where it is often difficult, even impossible, to separate private from public interests. The European Union and the New Trade Politics provides a state of the art analysis of how the EU shapes and is shaped by the 'new' trade politics. This book was previously published as a special issue of The Journal of European Public Policy.