Learning mechanisms harnessing creativity in a learning region: a convention approach.

Summary Regions build their economic advantage on their ability to mobilize and channel knowledge. The challenge of this research is to understand the dynamics at work in the inter-actor relations that explain the underperformance of some or the creative capacities of others through the diffusion of knowledge or learning. The challenge is to identify how individuals, firms and institutions interact and the effects of their interaction on regional innovation performance. We propose to approach this topic of study from the perspective of convention theory, exploring other important dimensions of creativity and learning, particularly by articulating the notions of trust and belief. Individuals act and interact in a social context governed by conventions. Action cannot take place without the existence of a number of conventions. A major problem with conventions is that they often limit the set of possible actions. They structure and constrain the action. They are not unrelated to the notions of trust and belief in question.