Territorial Competitiveness for the Interests of Publics

Roger Sugden; Silvia Sacchetti

doi:10.18543/bee.2944

Roger Sugden University of British Columbia https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7505-3071
Silvia Sacchetti University of Trento https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5662-2074

Keywords: Competitiveness, Organisation of production, Public interest, University researchers

Abstract

Competitiveness refers to a territory successfully satisfying its aims and objectives. In both research and practice, aims and objectives are usually specified in terms of compatibility with market success – e.g. performance in international trade - and/or the success of hierarchies – e.g. performance of large corporations. We suggest a different paradigm, focused on compatibility with the interests of publics. Achieving this would require forums where people could freely inquire about the territory. They could then recognise their concerns about choice of the territory’s aims and objectives, and might identify when they share concerns, i.e. when they constitute a public. The forums would enable people to learn and experience, observe, discuss, share understanding and ideas, express their voice, and listen to others. Despite university governance and epistemic governance tending to crowd-out space for activities centred on publics, one way that researchers can help to create forums is by cooperating with citizens, community groups, policy-makers, and diaspora. Together, they might reframe the nature and purpose of territorial competitiveness, making it for the interests of publics.

Author Biographies

Roger Sugden, University of British Columbia

PhD in Economics from the University of Warwick (UK). He is currently Professor at the Okanagan campus of the University of British Columbia (Canada), in Syilx Okanagan Nation territory. He has previously worked at the University of Stirling (Scotland), University of Birmingham (England), University of Edinburgh (Scotland), and the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (Germany). He has been Visiting Scholar at the University of Cambridge (England), and Visiting Professor at the Università degli Studi di Ferrara (Italy). His research focuses on economic organisation, governance, the interests of publics, and the socio-economic development of territories.

Silvia Sacchetti, University of Trento

PhD Commerce, Industrial Economic Policy (University of Birmingham, UK) is Professor in Political Economy at the Department of Sociology and Social Research, at the University of Trento (Italy). Before she has covered roles in the UK, at the University of Birmingham, University of Stirling, and The Open University. She collaborates with EURICSE, the European Research Institute on Cooperatives and Social Enterprise, with special focus on firm governance and human development processes that include publics, their motivational diversity, creativity, and production of public value. Current applications are in work-integration, educational, and cultural sectors. She acts as Co-Chief Editor of the Journal of Entrepreneurial and Organizational Diversity. She is a member of EMES and the European Research Board of the International Cooperative Alliance.

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