Understanding and Analyzing Competitive Dynamics will serve as the first book for economic development professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, and businesses because it answers the following three questions: What are the tools and techniques to analyze regional dynamics, how can these tools be used in a regional setting, and how can these tools help us formulate new directions? The book also highlights the necessity of regional level leadership in leveraging existing regional assets to create a cluster-based competitive regional economy through regional-level marketing, increasing synergy between industries in target clusters and their suppliers and customers, strengthening the cluster supply-chain by diversifying target clusters, and investing in human resources.

Table of Contents:
TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface 000 Chapter 1. Introduction and Overview 000 Competitive Dynamics 000 Methods, Tools, and Approaches 000 Regional Economic Analysis Tools 000 Strategic Management Tools 000 Methodological Issues 000 Region in Transition 000 Major Goals and Research Questions 000 The Plan of the Book 000 Chapter 2. Competitive Dynamics: Explaining Tools, Techniques, and Approaches 000 Conceptual Framework 000 From the Regional Economist’s Toolset 000 Analytical Tool 1: Location Quotient 000 Analytical Tool 2: Diversity Index 000 Analytical Tool 3: Structural Change Index 000 Analytical Tool 4: Shift-Share Analysis 000 Analytical Tool 5: Underemployment Rate 000 Analytical Tool 6: Regional Autonomy 000 Analytical Tool 7: Skill-Mismatch Index 000 Analytical Tool 8: Import Substitution 000 Analytical Tool 9: Industry Clusters 000 Analytical Tool 10: Cluster Gap Analysis 000 From the Strategist’s Playbook 000 Strategic Management Tool 1: Porter’s Diamond Model 000 Strategic Management Tool 2: SWOT Analysis 000 Strategic Management Tool 3: Five Forces that Shape Strategy 000 Strategic Management Tool 4: Blue Ocean Strategy 000 Strategic Management Tool 5: Core Competency Analysis 000 Strategic Management Tool 6: PEST Analysis 000 Strategic Management Tool 7: Value-Chain Analysis 000 Strategic Management Tool 8: Generic Strategies (Porter) 000 Strategic Management Tool 9: Scenario Analysis 000 Strategic Management Tool 10: The 7S Model (McKinsey) 000 Data and Study Approaches 000 Survey and Interview Questions 000 Cluster Analysis 000 Data 000 Chapter 3. Understanding and Analyzing Socioeconomic Dynamics 000 Regional Socioeconomic Dynamics 000 Population Dynamics 000 Per Capita Income 000 Average Wage 000 Employment Trend 000 Sectoral Employment 000 Migration 000 Commuters 000 Workforce by Education and Age Cohort 000 Workforce Availability: Underemployment and Employment 000 Conceptual Framework 000 Methodology 000 State-Level Regression Results and Findings for Counties 000 Economic Vulnerability: Vitality, Autonomy, and Diversity 000 Methodology 000 Major Industry Groupings and Sectoral Dependency 000 Autonomy and Vitality 000 Economic Diversity 000 Sectoral Diversity and Vulnerability 000 Dynamics of Plant Closing, Relocation, and Consolidation 000 Methodology 000 Study Findings 000 Event-Data Estimates versus BLS Layoff Statistics 000 Chapter 4. Understanding and Analyzing International Competitiveness 000 Steven G. Livingston Competitiveness Assessed through Export Performance 000 Export Intensity 000 Export Dynamism 000 Competitiveness Assessed through Industry Mix 000 Industry Mix vs. Local Factors in International Orientation 000 Competitiveness Assessed through Regional Imports and Trade Balances 000 “Trade Balances” and Import Levels 000 Complementary vs. Competitive Imports 000 Competitiveness Assessed through Foreign Direct Investment 000 Dependence upon Foreign Direct Investment 000 Conclusion 000 Chapter 5. Analyzing Competitive Dynamics: Industry Clusters 000 Literature Review 000 Conceptual Framework 000 Input-Output Model 000 Model-Driven Regional Clusters 000 Number of Clusters 000 Chapter 6. Businesses and Other Stakeholders on Business Dynamics 000 Historical Perspective on Regional Industry Clusters 000 Impact of Overseas Competition 000 Companies Defying the Trend 000 Transitions and Tensions 000 Past, Present, and Future of Regional Industry Clusters 000 Current Challenges for Existing Clusters 000 Current Cluster Performance 000 Current Cluster Challenges 000 Recommendations to Overcome Challenges 000 Ways to Improve Regional Competitiveness 000 Future/Potential Industry Clusters 000 Future Challenges 000 Dynamics of Business Interactions in the Study Region 000 Business-to-Business Interactions 000 Business-to-Education Interactions 000 Promoting Business Interest 000 Chapter 7. Regional Factor Conditions and Survey-Based Industry Clusters 000 Survey-Based Clusters, Linkages, and Common Problems 000 Clusters, Common Problems, and Support Institutions 000 S.W.O.T Analysis for Regional Clusters 000 Regional Factor Conditions 000 Regional and Industry Risk Factors 000 Knowledge, Labor, Supplier and Demand 000 Entrepreneurship, Technology, Regional Focus, and Firm Strategy 000 Government, Globalization and Business Culture 000 Other Regional Issues 000 Strategic Interactions and Doing Business in the MTM Region 000 Chapter 8. Analyzing Regional Clusters: Indicators and Rankings 000 Ranking Methodology 000 Cluster Indicators Used in Rankings 000 Cluster Rankings Based on 30 Performance Indicators 000 Chapter 9. Moving from Regional Clusters to Target Clusters 000 Target Industry Selection Criteria 000 Cluster Depth and Specialization 000 Gaps in Clusters 000 External Linkages 000 Technology Contents of Clusters 000 Insights from Business Surveys and Interviews 000 Local Expert Feedback 000 Target Clusters in the MTM Region 000 Holistic View of Inter-Cluster Linkages and Cluster Status 000 Detailed Industry Cluster Profile 000 Chapter 10. Policy Recommendations and Future Directions 000 Cluster Specific Recommendations 000 Motor Vehicle and Associated Products Cluster 000 Advanced Metal Manufacturing 000 Information Technology and Precision Instrument Manufacturing 000 Agribusiness 000 Recommendations for the MTM Region 000 Regional Level Marketing 000 Regional Level Workforce Analysis 000 In-Depth Cluster Needs Assessment 000 Emerging Clusters/Areas: High Tech 000 Emerging Clusters/Areas: Tourism 000 Specific Policy Priorities 000 Data Sources 000 Bibliography 000