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Publications

Civil economy as a path towards sustainability: An empirical investigation

Publication . Nogueira, Carla; Marques, João Filipe; Pinto, Hugo

Contemporary societies face a myriad of challenges that require the modification of patterns, ways of living, being and producing. Although climate change is one of the most glaring problems, it cannot be understood merely by environmental aspects. Many of these challenges are interrelated and have their roots in a set of crystallized structures that are obsolete, namely the economic ones. Contemporary capitalism has been proving its limitations and contribution to less fair, harmonious and sustainable societies. Evidence of this is the policy efforts that many organizations, such as the European Commission, are making to promote environmental transitions, the circular economy, and green innovations. This article argues that the concept of civil economy may be complementary to this green policy agenda for reflecting on current social challenges and emphasize the importance of cultural, environmental, spiritual and economic resources operating together. It pays attention to gift-giving as a form of civil economy, defining a framework inspired by positive sociology. The article uses the case study of "Los Portales", an intentional sustainable community located in Spain, with around 40 inhabitants and more than 40 years of existence. The study is of ethnographic character and based on in-depth interviews with experts on the economic governance of this community. The results show that the principles of the gift economy were crucial to the success and longevity of the community. They also suggest an agency-centred approach in which individuals should engage activities that promote personal happiness, collective happiness and prosperity.

2023-05Journal article

Open Access

Universities and institutionalization of regional innovation policy in peripheral regions: insights from the smart specialization in Portugal

Publication . Pinto, Hugo

Regional innovation policies are currently influenced by a series of territorial innovation models, with the regional innovation system (RIS) approach being one of the prominent examples. The rationale of smart specialization strategies (S3s) is deeply influenced by the RIS concept and highlights the importance of entrepreneurial discovery and shared governance by different types of actors. Among them, universities are seen as crucial for the success of S3 design and implementation. This article, mixing a policy debate perspective with analysis of recent quantitative and qualitative information about the Portuguese case, highlights relevant aspects for understanding the institutionalization of regional innovation and the role universities have in it as crucial knowledge brokers. The results have implications for regional innovation policies and in particular for the challenges that peripheral regions face.

2023Journal article

Open Access

The social shaping of innovation: networks and expectations as connecting dynamics in regional innovation systems

Publication . Pinto, Hugo; Nogueira, Carla; Cruz, Ana Rita; Uyarra, Elvira

The study of innovation dynamics has expanded widely in recent decades. However, it has failed to include research focusing on the social process and demonstrating the mechanisms of a given system's innovative capacity, thus resulting in the fragmentation of theoretical approaches rather than the construction of a cohesive framework. Based on the assumption that innovation depends not only on the structural conditions of the context in which a system is inserted but also on the relationships established between the key actors in a given system, this article analyses the innovation system in Pernambuco (Brazil) as a strategic research material which highlights agency and the structural aspects of innovation dynamics. It presents a mixed-method approach to understanding the innovation structure, based on social network analysis and the expectations of innovation actors regarding systemic failures and desired change. The results show the interconnections between the two methods and emphasise the need to overcome conceptual and methodological agency-structure dilemmas to ensure that public policy is better informed.

2021Journal article

Restricted

Latent dimensions between water use and socio-economic development: a global exploratory statistical analysis

Publication . Balata, Edson Elídio; Pinto, Hugo; Silva, Manuela

Water use and socio-economic development are interconnected in complex ways. Causalities are not easy to identify but it is evident that a nexus between water use and socio-economic development does exist. Considering the diversity of national situations relating to these interrelated phenomena, its study should be considered from a global perspective. This article critically reviews the literature and information from official sources on the relevance of water use and circular economy in order to create a global picture, linking water with socio-economic development. Data from 195 countries was analyzed statistically. A factor analysis defined five essential latent dimensions on the nexus between water use and socio-economic development: development and basic services, population and resource, economic volume, health and well-being, and population density. Based on the identified factors, countries were classified into six groups: Global South in difficulty, global semi-periphery, advanced economy, Middle East and other Global South developing economy, global weight, and small highly developed economy. The clustering results clarify connections between water use conditions and socio-economic development. Understanding the variety of national profiles is helpful to reveal the magnitude and urgency of dealing with the nexus between water use and socio-economic development for many countries.

2022Journal article

Open Access