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Chapter 15: The New Economy and Networking This chapter connects the knowledge-based economy with the formation of networks, a field that constitutes a moving target. Networks have certainly not ceased to develop, if anything it is the hierarchical organisation that is in retreat. The literature reflects this state of things. It is not a literature on phenomena that has reached an equilibrium, but as one which is vigorously developing. Clearly, to review such an expanding field constitutes an almost impossible task, at least for what concerns completeness of coverage. Thus, the author has deliberately chosen to address the main problems and to cover the main classes of literature. The main points about the economics of knowledge are stated in Section 2 and the literature on networks is surveyed in Sections 3 to 5. The final section points to the new role of government that is emerging as the knowledge-driven and globalising economy alters the way firms organize their operation within and across nation-states.
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