Changing Fortunes And Adjustments Of Old Industrial Areas

A first and necessary step of theory based on knowledge creation consists in a very important insight that the problems of Old Industrial Regions are specific in kind instead of a transient feature of general economic development scattered in space. In this paper, for one thing, a systematic research on the development path of traditional industrial bases and the root causes for their changing (declining) fortunes provides a theoretical frame of reference for the countries or regions which are under economic transition. For another thing, an empirical analysis and assessment in the case of German Ruhr restructuring experiences serves as a good example for processes of transformation and a learning device for other "smokestack areas" as well. As a matter of fact, the case of the Ruhr offers some ideas and warns of some traps for other traditional industrial areas worldwide. In evidence, this paper addresses the problem in both theoretical and empirical methods.This paper consists of eight parts. First of all, a brief introduction gives general information about the research background, framework and approaches applied. Chapter two illustrates the related concepts about of Old Industrial Areas, including its definition and characteristics followed by four good examples of transition economy process, such as American Rust-belt, old industrial regions in England and France, and German Ruhr. Chapter three discusses the theoretical foundations to explain the changing fortunes of Old Industrial Areas, including the structural approach, specialization, cumulative causation analysis, and the sclerotic milieus, institutional lock-in, path dependency approach etc. In Chapter Four to Chapter Five, we mainly put emphasis on potential adjustment policies and the related implemental mechanism. Based on the theoretical analysis in the above chapters, an empirical study in German Ruhr arises. Therefore, in Chapter Six, we focus on the case study in Ruhr area and make a detailed analysis of its whole...