Local Capacities: focusing on a new economy for productive territories

Abstract

This paper suggests an analysis over the Italian crisis situation and perspectives of overcoming it, based on the capacity the territories have in recognizing and valuing their own assets, connecting them to the evolution of the world economic situation in a more active way. The debate prospects that the Italian Crisis is not only linked to the country’s economic and financial situation, but, also, to international competitiveness, environmental sustainability and, specially, institutional capacity. Secondly, it debates about a development definition which overcomes the concept and related measures based on the gross production flow of short periods to go forward, rather than, towards an idea of sustainable and inclusive growth, with its foundation on value increase of environmental, human, and social assets of a territory. Thirdly, the paper aims to retrieve debates on local production, which were, in Italy, marked by the industrial districts history. The main goal here is to recover the useful elements related to this concept that should be updated anyways, according to the nowadays economic and technological evolution. The main purpose is adopting a more wide idea over the productive territory, which development depends on a set of local capacities for organizing, managing and provide meaning to innovation projects. Finally, the analysis of some experiences on sustainable development is presented, indicating how new productive territories are taking shape, as a reaction to the economic crisis.