Stefano Usai
Biographic Data
| ID | 255222 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Stefano Usai |
| GIVEN NAMES | Stefano |
| FAMILY NAME | Usai |
| SIGNATURE | USAI S |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Cagliari |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5619-1350 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 16 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 160 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 15 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1999 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
The Geography of Intergenerational Educational Mobility in Italy: Trends and Socioeconomic Correlates
This study explores the evolution of intergenerational educational mobility across Italian regions using Bank of Italy survey data, covering seven ten-year cohorts beginning with individuals born in the 1920s. The results show a substantial increase in educational mobility over the past century, though this progress appears to have stalled for the youngest cohorts. Mobility is highest in the Northeast and Central regions, followed by the Northwes…
Measuring Spatial Dispersion: An Experimental Test on the M ‐Index
Despite representing a very accurate method for assessing spatial distribution, Marcon and Puech's M has been insufficiently exploited so far, most likely because its computation relies on pairing every point of interest (i.e., firms, plants) with every other point within the area under analysis. Such a figure rapidly grows to unmanageable levels when said area is larger than a neighborhood or when every industry is taken into account. Consequent…
Direct and indirect effects of universities on European regional productivity
Universities are fundamental in driving economic performance as they generate human capital, research and knowledge diffusion. We propose a novel analysis by investigating their effects on European regions' total factor productivity (TFP) over the period 2000-2016. We distinguish between direct effects, due to universities societal role ("third mission"), and indirect ones originating from human and technological capital creation. Our contributio…
Evaluating the implementation of Smart Specialisation policy
The Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) is at the core of the 2014–20 European Cohesion Policy, supporting regions to identify the technologies and economic sectors that might comprise sustainable growth paths. This paper provides an early attempt to assess empirically, for the whole European Union, whether the choices made by regions in selecting S3 target sectors are consistent with their current or potential specialization patterns. Results sho…
Regions in a time of pandemic
This paper contributes to the current debate in the field of critical urban and regional studies on the meanings of the "regional" and the "urban".From a political science perspective, we focus on the European case.Firstly, we argue that the conception of the regional scale is not the same in various languages and traditions.Regions in Europe carry meanings and connotations that are not always easy to translate without losing their specific histo…
Rethinking regions in turbulent times
We live in turbulent times, but when has this not been the case? The history of regions and the ‘regional studies project’ has always had at its core concerns relating to new and increased social and spatial inequalities resulting from economic and political change. Whatever change has occurred to cause this turbulence, some people and places have taken advantage and raced ahead, while others were disadvantaged and left behind. The difference tod…
European Knowledge Neighbourhood: Knowledge Production in EU Neighbouring Countries and Intensity of the Relationship with EU Countries
This study aims to analyse the creation of knowledge in the European neighbourhood and the diffusion of knowledge among EU countries and European neighbouring countries (ENCs). We first collate different indicators of knowledge production and diffusion in order to characterise the main feature of ENCs. In this respect, we contribute not only with an overview of potential knowledge interactions between EU and ENCs, but also suggest original ways t…
Global reversal, regional revival
Regional Studies celebrates its 50th anniversary with this special issue. This introductory article reflects back on developments since the journal was started and offers signposts for urban and regional research looking ahead. It outlines the changing global context for regional studies and identifies some of the ways in which the need for regional research is enhanced by the extraordinary challenges currently confronting the world. It also intr…
Knowledge flows, externalities and innovation networks
Knowledge flows, externalities and innovation networks. Regional Studies. This editorial introduces the articles addressing the multifaceted and composite phenomenon of knowledge flows and externalities within innovation networks. The papers offer a diversity of country contexts, as well as analytical approaches and methods. Starting with methods, they contain econometric analysis as well as social network analysis and combinations of the two. Wh…
Are knowledge flows all alike? Evidence from European regions
Are knowledge flows all alike? Evidence from European regions. Regional Studies. The paper investigates the impact of distance, contiguity and technological proximity on cross-regional knowledge flows by comparing the evidence concerning co-inventorship, applicant–inventor relationships and citation flows. Evidence is found of significant differences across these diverse kinds of knowledge flows for what concerns the role of distance, and the mod…
The Dynamics of Knowledge Externalities. Localized Technological Change in Italy
The Geography of Inventive Activity in OECD Regions
Usai S. The geography of inventive activity in OECD regions, Regional Studies. This work is among the first systematic attempts to analyse comparatively the distribution of inventive activity across regions in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) economies with a set of homogenous measures to measure the process of knowledge production and dissemination. The descriptive analysis shows that inventive performance is concent…
Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development: Macroeconomic Models and Empirical Methods
3. Why are tourism countries small and fast-growing?57 A. Lanza and F. Pigliaru 4. The strategic importance of the cultural sector for sustainable urban tourism 71 A.P
Spatial Spillovers and Innovation Activity in European Regions
This paper explores the spatial distribution of innovative activity and the role of technological spillovers in the process of knowledge creation and diffusion across 175 regions of seventeen countries in Europe (the fifteen members of the pre-2004 European Union plus Switzerland and Norway). The analysis is based on a databank set up by CRENoS on regional patenting at the European Patent Office, spanning 1978–2001 and classified by ISIC sectors.…
Technological Enclaves and Industrial Districts: An Analysis of the Regional Distribution of Innovative Activity in Europe
This paper explores the spatial distribution of innovative and productive activity across 109 regions of the European Union, thanks to an original databank on regional patents statistics. The main results worth highlighting are as follows. The technological activity in the EU appears to be highly concentrated, although concentration tends to decline over the eighties. This results from the huge differences between southern and northern Europe. As…
Externalities, knowledge spillovers and the spatial distribution of innovation
Regions in a time of pandemic
This paper contributes to the current debate in the field of critical urban and regional studies on the meanings of the "regional" and the "urban".From a political science perspective, we focus on the European case.Firstly, we argue that the conception of the regional scale is not the same in various languages and traditions.Regions in Europe carry meanings and connotations that are not always easy to translate without losing their specific histo…
Technological Enclaves and Industrial Districts: An Analysis of the Regional Distribution of Innovative Activity in Europe
This paper explores the spatial distribution of innovative and productive activity across 109 regions of the European Union, thanks to an original databank on regional patents statistics. The main results worth highlighting are as follows. The technological activity in the EU appears to be highly concentrated, although concentration tends to decline over the eighties. This results from the huge differences between southern and northern Europe. As…
Spatial Spillovers and Innovation Activity in European Regions
This paper explores the spatial distribution of innovative activity and the role of technological spillovers in the process of knowledge creation and diffusion across 175 regions of seventeen countries in Europe (the fifteen members of the pre-2004 European Union plus Switzerland and Norway). The analysis is based on a databank set up by CRENoS on regional patenting at the European Patent Office, spanning 1978–2001 and classified by ISIC sectors.…
The Geography of Inventive Activity in OECD Regions
Usai S. The geography of inventive activity in OECD regions, Regional Studies. This work is among the first systematic attempts to analyse comparatively the distribution of inventive activity across regions in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) economies with a set of homogenous measures to measure the process of knowledge production and dissemination. The descriptive analysis shows that inventive performance is concent…
Evaluating the implementation of Smart Specialisation policy
The Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) is at the core of the 2014–20 European Cohesion Policy, supporting regions to identify the technologies and economic sectors that might comprise sustainable growth paths. This paper provides an early attempt to assess empirically, for the whole European Union, whether the choices made by regions in selecting S3 target sectors are consistent with their current or potential specialization patterns. Results sho…
Rethinking regions in turbulent times
We live in turbulent times, but when has this not been the case? The history of regions and the ‘regional studies project’ has always had at its core concerns relating to new and increased social and spatial inequalities resulting from economic and political change. Whatever change has occurred to cause this turbulence, some people and places have taken advantage and raced ahead, while others were disadvantaged and left behind. The difference tod…
Are knowledge flows all alike? Evidence from European regions
Are knowledge flows all alike? Evidence from European regions. Regional Studies. The paper investigates the impact of distance, contiguity and technological proximity on cross-regional knowledge flows by comparing the evidence concerning co-inventorship, applicant–inventor relationships and citation flows. Evidence is found of significant differences across these diverse kinds of knowledge flows for what concerns the role of distance, and the mod…
Direct and indirect effects of universities on European regional productivity
Universities are fundamental in driving economic performance as they generate human capital, research and knowledge diffusion. We propose a novel analysis by investigating their effects on European regions' total factor productivity (TFP) over the period 2000-2016. We distinguish between direct effects, due to universities societal role ("third mission"), and indirect ones originating from human and technological capital creation. Our contributio…
Global reversal, regional revival
Regional Studies celebrates its 50th anniversary with this special issue. This introductory article reflects back on developments since the journal was started and offers signposts for urban and regional research looking ahead. It outlines the changing global context for regional studies and identifies some of the ways in which the need for regional research is enhanced by the extraordinary challenges currently confronting the world. It also intr…
Externalities, knowledge spillovers and the spatial distribution of innovation
Knowledge flows, externalities and innovation networks
Knowledge flows, externalities and innovation networks. Regional Studies. This editorial introduces the articles addressing the multifaceted and composite phenomenon of knowledge flows and externalities within innovation networks. The papers offer a diversity of country contexts, as well as analytical approaches and methods. Starting with methods, they contain econometric analysis as well as social network analysis and combinations of the two. Wh…
European Knowledge Neighbourhood: Knowledge Production in EU Neighbouring Countries and Intensity of the Relationship with EU Countries
This study aims to analyse the creation of knowledge in the European neighbourhood and the diffusion of knowledge among EU countries and European neighbouring countries (ENCs). We first collate different indicators of knowledge production and diffusion in order to characterise the main feature of ENCs. In this respect, we contribute not only with an overview of potential knowledge interactions between EU and ENCs, but also suggest original ways t…
The Dynamics of Knowledge Externalities. Localized Technological Change in Italy
Externalities, knowledge spillovers and the spatial distribution of innovation
Technological Enclaves and Industrial Districts: An Analysis of the Regional Distribution of Innovative Activity in Europe
This paper explores the spatial distribution of innovative and productive activity across 109 regions of the European Union, thanks to an original databank on regional patents statistics. The main results worth highlighting are as follows. The technological activity in the EU appears to be highly concentrated, although concentration tends to decline over the eighties. This results from the huge differences between southern and northern Europe. As…
Spatial Spillovers and Innovation Activity in European Regions
This paper explores the spatial distribution of innovative activity and the role of technological spillovers in the process of knowledge creation and diffusion across 175 regions of seventeen countries in Europe (the fifteen members of the pre-2004 European Union plus Switzerland and Norway). The analysis is based on a databank set up by CRENoS on regional patenting at the European Patent Office, spanning 1978–2001 and classified by ISIC sectors.…
Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development: Macroeconomic Models and Empirical Methods
3. Why are tourism countries small and fast-growing?57 A. Lanza and F. Pigliaru 4. The strategic importance of the cultural sector for sustainable urban tourism 71 A.P
The Geography of Inventive Activity in OECD Regions
Usai S. The geography of inventive activity in OECD regions, Regional Studies. This work is among the first systematic attempts to analyse comparatively the distribution of inventive activity across regions in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) economies with a set of homogenous measures to measure the process of knowledge production and dissemination. The descriptive analysis shows that inventive performance is concent…
The Dynamics of Knowledge Externalities. Localized Technological Change in Italy
Are knowledge flows all alike? Evidence from European regions
Are knowledge flows all alike? Evidence from European regions. Regional Studies. The paper investigates the impact of distance, contiguity and technological proximity on cross-regional knowledge flows by comparing the evidence concerning co-inventorship, applicant–inventor relationships and citation flows. Evidence is found of significant differences across these diverse kinds of knowledge flows for what concerns the role of distance, and the mod…
European Knowledge Neighbourhood: Knowledge Production in EU Neighbouring Countries and Intensity of the Relationship with EU Countries
This study aims to analyse the creation of knowledge in the European neighbourhood and the diffusion of knowledge among EU countries and European neighbouring countries (ENCs). We first collate different indicators of knowledge production and diffusion in order to characterise the main feature of ENCs. In this respect, we contribute not only with an overview of potential knowledge interactions between EU and ENCs, but also suggest original ways t…
Global reversal, regional revival
Regional Studies celebrates its 50th anniversary with this special issue. This introductory article reflects back on developments since the journal was started and offers signposts for urban and regional research looking ahead. It outlines the changing global context for regional studies and identifies some of the ways in which the need for regional research is enhanced by the extraordinary challenges currently confronting the world. It also intr…
Knowledge flows, externalities and innovation networks
Knowledge flows, externalities and innovation networks. Regional Studies. This editorial introduces the articles addressing the multifaceted and composite phenomenon of knowledge flows and externalities within innovation networks. The papers offer a diversity of country contexts, as well as analytical approaches and methods. Starting with methods, they contain econometric analysis as well as social network analysis and combinations of the two. Wh…
Rethinking regions in turbulent times
We live in turbulent times, but when has this not been the case? The history of regions and the ‘regional studies project’ has always had at its core concerns relating to new and increased social and spatial inequalities resulting from economic and political change. Whatever change has occurred to cause this turbulence, some people and places have taken advantage and raced ahead, while others were disadvantaged and left behind. The difference tod…
Regions in a time of pandemic
This paper contributes to the current debate in the field of critical urban and regional studies on the meanings of the "regional" and the "urban".From a political science perspective, we focus on the European case.Firstly, we argue that the conception of the regional scale is not the same in various languages and traditions.Regions in Europe carry meanings and connotations that are not always easy to translate without losing their specific histo…
Direct and indirect effects of universities on European regional productivity
Universities are fundamental in driving economic performance as they generate human capital, research and knowledge diffusion. We propose a novel analysis by investigating their effects on European regions' total factor productivity (TFP) over the period 2000-2016. We distinguish between direct effects, due to universities societal role ("third mission"), and indirect ones originating from human and technological capital creation. Our contributio…
Evaluating the implementation of Smart Specialisation policy
The Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) is at the core of the 2014–20 European Cohesion Policy, supporting regions to identify the technologies and economic sectors that might comprise sustainable growth paths. This paper provides an early attempt to assess empirically, for the whole European Union, whether the choices made by regions in selecting S3 target sectors are consistent with their current or potential specialization patterns. Results sho…
Measuring Spatial Dispersion: An Experimental Test on the M ‐Index
Despite representing a very accurate method for assessing spatial distribution, Marcon and Puech's M has been insufficiently exploited so far, most likely because its computation relies on pairing every point of interest (i.e., firms, plants) with every other point within the area under analysis. Such a figure rapidly grows to unmanageable levels when said area is larger than a neighborhood or when every industry is taken into account. Consequent…
The Geography of Intergenerational Educational Mobility in Italy: Trends and Socioeconomic Correlates
This study explores the evolution of intergenerational educational mobility across Italian regions using Bank of Italy survey data, covering seven ten-year cohorts beginning with individuals born in the 1920s. The results show a substantial increase in educational mobility over the past century, though this progress appears to have stalled for the youngest cohorts. Mobility is highest in the Northeast and Central regions, followed by the Northwes…
Economic geography (14 works) · Geography (14 works) · Regional science (13 works) · Economics (10 works) · Regional Development and Policy (10 works) · Regional Economics and Spatial Analysis (10 works) · Political science (7 works) · Computer Science (6 works) · Economic Growth and Productivity (5 works) · Regional development (5 works)