Geographical and temporal variation of regional development and innovation in Finland

Authors

  • Teemu Makkonen University of Southern Denmark, Department of Border Region Studies
  • Tommi Inkinen University of Helsinki, Department of Geosciences and Geography

Keywords:

innovation, regional development, education, Finland, local administrative unit, principal component analysis

Abstract

Variations in regional development are basically carried forward by technological development together with spatial concentrations of production and finance. The main argument behind this paper is that innovation and regional development variables have temporal variations in a spatial context. Analysis was conducted using principal component indices from the years 1995–2007 to provide a temporal trend perspective of the most successful locations in innovation activity and regional development. Availability of an extensive workforce, income and higher education have steadily been the most “distinct” variables corresponding to regional development in Finland, whereas innovation occupies a stable middling position among explanative variables. Regional development and innovation activity is still concentrated in the core urban regions, but this tendency has lost at least some of its importance.

Section
Research Papers

Published

2015-05-04

How to Cite

Makkonen, T., & Inkinen, T. (2015). Geographical and temporal variation of regional development and innovation in Finland. Fennia - International Journal of Geography, 193(1), 134–147. Retrieved from https://fennia.journal.fi/article/view/46476