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Capturing the benefits that emerge from regional sustainability networks: The C astile– L a M ancha network of sustainable cities and towns
Author(s) -
Echebarria Carmen,
Barrutia Jose M.,
Aguado Itziar,
Apaolaza Vanessa,
Hartmann Patrick
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
papers in regional science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.937
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1435-5957
pISSN - 1056-8190
DOI - 10.1111/pirs.12110
Subject(s) - sustainability , urban sustainability , geography , economic geography , regional science , environmental planning , ecology , biology
A great deal of regional research has focused on the innovation‐competitiveness‐growth chain, which is implicit in territorial innovation models ( TIMs ). TIMs literature has neglected or subordinated social and ecological regional conditions. This research adopts a broader perspective by: ( i ) studying an interscalar intergovernmental network aimed at meeting tridimensional sustainable development ( SD ) goals; and ( ii ) showing why this arrangement is successful. The network members are the regional government and provincial councils, which act as network promoters, and the municipalities. We model the network as a platform for integrating both pre‐existing idiosyncratic resources and emergent resources/benefits that come from rich and regular interactions (in the shape of learning, enjoyment, reputation, identification, and attitude towards citizen participation); resources integration leads to network member satisfaction. This view is supported by data concerning a network in a S panish autonomous community (region), C astile– L a M ancha. We see this study as a first step towards more systematic research on what might be termed ‘territorial sustainability models’.