An Intellectual Capital Perspective for Local Governance and Sustainable Growth

This paper presents an Intellectual Capital perspective for Territorial Competitiveness and Social Responsibility. The latter is defined as a pathway promoted by a plurality of public and private actors, in the for-profit and non-profit sectors, who find that relationships and social cohesion are the drivers for the construction of shared territorial governance. Our study integrates an extensive literature review with data from longitudinal empirical research. We have adopted the methodology of qualitative research-based case study. promoted in the Marches Region of Italy. This region was selected as a case study because it is emblematic of the Italian context; the territory is characterized by small businesses diffused throughout the socio-economic fabric and by the proactive role taken by local governments. Applying this model in public policy initiatives would be innovative. The Intellectual Capital perspective offers a powerful instrument for raising awareness of the gaps that local policymakers should address through their initiatives in the knowledge economy.