Regional Economic Development – An Assessment of Emergent Theories, Strategies, and Policies
Fulbright Summer Institute
June 7-11, 2004



The intensive five-day Fulbright Summer Institute brought together distinguished economic development
faculty, economic development policy professionals, junior scholars and graduate students in planning,
public policy analysis, geography, and business.  Seminar participants discussed emerging ideas and
critically reviewed recent theoretical frameworks, strategies, and policies in regional economic development.

Discussion focused on economic development strategies and policies for rural and lagging regions. The group
also spent a day touring the Research Triangle Park and Centennial Campus, at NCSU.  Says Harvey Goldstein,
program host, "the week-long seminar proved to be a stimulating and fun experience for faculty and students on
both sides of the Atlantic to share, discuss, and cross-fertilize ideas about what's new and promising, what works,
and what doesn't work in regional economic development theories and policies."

Session titles included: “Spillovers and Innovation, Environment and Space”; “How, and How Much, Do
Universities Contribute to Regional Economic Development?”; “Leveraging Local Advantage: Lessons from Three
Generations of Value Chain Research”; “Cluster Mechanisms: Beyond the Usual Suspects”; and “State and Local
Policy Responses to Globalization and the Shifting Geography of Production”.  The group also spent a day touring
the Research Triangle Park and N.C. State Centennial Campus.  Event Agenda (PDF)

The Fulbright Summer Institute was held at UNC’s newly constructed Institute for Arts and Humanities at Hyde Hall.  
The setting allowed for an informal and relaxed environment, while assuring the attendees maximum interaction.

Group Picture

Sponsors: The University of North Carolina’s University Center for International Studies, Kenan Institute of private
enterprise, and the Department of City and Regional Planning, in conjunction with the Vienna University of
Economics and Business Administration, through a Fulbright Alumni Initiative Award Grant.