The authors contribute to the developing literature on call centres by providing detailed empirical evidence on the spatial unevenness in the distribution of call centre activity. They argue that the driving forces of call centre growth, whether as the rationalisation of back-office functions or...

Studies examining the additionality of Structural Funds in UK regions have emphasised the dominant 'gatekeeping' role played by central government. This has been explained by the 'global' interpretation of additionality adopted by UK central government, coupled with the absence of a strong tier...

This paper presents new evidence concerning the spatial distribution of UK call centre activity and analyses the determinants of this distribution. The study adopts a restructuring perspective, viewing call centre growth as a strategic response by companies seeking to develop competitive...

Since the early 1990s, the concept of regional competitiveness has become a hegemonic discourse within public policy circles in developed countries. However, it is a somewhat chaotic and ill-defined discourse based on a relatively narrow conception of how regions compete, prosper and grow. This...

What is regional competitiveness? -- The political economy of regional competitiveness -- Competitiveness and the 'one-size-fits-all' regional policy consensus -- Performance indicators and rankings : deconstructing competitiveness league tables -- Resisting or re-stating competitiveness?...