Human capital in low-tech manufacturing: The geography of the knowledge economy in Denmark

TY - JOUR

T1 - Human capital in low-tech manufacturing

T2 - The geography of the knowledge economy in Denmark

AU - Hansen, Teis

AU - Winther, Lars

AU - Hansen, Ronnie Fibæk

PY - 2014/8

Y1 - 2014/8

N2 - An essential feature associated with the rise of the knowledge economy has been the increasing focus on the importance of human capital as a precondition for economic growth. Human capital has been found to have a positive impact on the economic growth of high-tech industries, however, the influence of human capital on the development of low-tech industries is yet to be analysed. This paper provides such an examination of low-tech industries based on an analysis of employment data within manufacturing industries in Denmark in the period 1993–2006. The findings highlight, first, that human capital appears to be equally important for economic development in low-tech industries and, second, that the divide between the large urban regions, especially Copenhagen, and the rest of the country plays the primary role in explaining the geography of human capital. These findings stress the relevance of a broad conception of the knowledge economy which goes beyond high-tech industries.

AB - An essential feature associated with the rise of the knowledge economy has been the increasing focus on the importance of human capital as a precondition for economic growth. Human capital has been found to have a positive impact on the economic growth of high-tech industries, however, the influence of human capital on the development of low-tech industries is yet to be analysed. This paper provides such an examination of low-tech industries based on an analysis of employment data within manufacturing industries in Denmark in the period 1993–2006. The findings highlight, first, that human capital appears to be equally important for economic development in low-tech industries and, second, that the divide between the large urban regions, especially Copenhagen, and the rest of the country plays the primary role in explaining the geography of human capital. These findings stress the relevance of a broad conception of the knowledge economy which goes beyond high-tech industries.

U2 - 10.1080/09654313.2013.797384

DO - 10.1080/09654313.2013.797384

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0965-4313

VL - 22

SP - 1693

EP - 1710

JO - European Planning Studies

JF - European Planning Studies

IS - 8

ER -