The widely accepted growth model for developed countries in the 21st century is about achieving advantage based on creativity, innovation and knowledge. In a global economic system cost cannot be the main source of competitive advantage as developing countries will always be able to offer cheaper labour. ‘Winning’ on these terms is not desirable in any case. Instead, economic development strategies focus on finding ways to produce higher value added goods and services. Such activities tend to be highly spatially concentrated in certain places which are often the largest cities. Canada in some ways in an exception to these patterns, but this is mostly an illusion, and a temporary one at that.

Read more at Local IDEAs