At the beginning of the 90's after doing extensive research via the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development I have to admit that I discover a Meso Economy whose efficiency is as old as Human Collaboration and sometimes Cooperation.
After two years of research/action with 8 qualify persons who where very Cooperative I have directed a project called "Promoting Regional Synergies".
Here is in this first diary on this subject an introduction.
Snowy
The first fact that one is confronted with is of course the Federalists Govern Mentals and before them Monarchic Regimes have by their own Nature been promoters of Macro Economy and Federalisation of all economy within their boundaries.
That lead of course to capitalism, that is privatisation of profits and socialisation of charges and costs.
What is a Region?
Most of Regions of the World where determine by geological layout, quite natural indeed.
Usually when you get out of your own region and get into a new one, there is a difference, sometimes in the accent spoken, sometimes in the languages spoken, often in beliefs, in traditions and customs and of course in the economic layout.
I believe North America can describe well what happenned to the Regions, in United States, in Canada and in Quebec (what is left of Nouvelle France).
Of course the first Inter-Regional Communications Pathways were the rivers, and it is via those rivers or huge lakes that Inter-Regional exchange happened, so far so good as they then say. The North brought Venison, Furs, Cold Medicines and firm flesh fishes and exchange them with the Southern Regions for what was consider as exotic fishes and meat, a lot of vegetables and fruits, etc..
Then the problems started with the introduction of Railroads. Sadly both Federal GovernMentals Powers in Washington and Ottawa took a strategic approach to get trough First Nations Autonomous Regions and of course these GovernMental decision have created a lot of Injustice, wars and decimate more First Nations People.
Right at the beginning of the introduction of Railroads, all the Inter-Regional economy was in shamble, it could not compete with the centralisation of Federals governments nor the centralisation of production (Industries).
Of course a century later, they built roads and bridges and tunnel for cars and trucks and thus almost extenguish all Intra-Muros and Inter-Regional economical activities.
Then came the telegraph with all its tactical advantages, the phone, the TV and now the Internet.
In most of the Regions of North America there are things that have survived from the blow coming from the Federalistic Europe and in the view of non-industrial affiliate economists, the Optimal economical activities and employment can come out from the Historical Layout of Regions.
Just remember Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered is a collection of essays by British economist E. F. Schumacher.
Or remember Mahatma Ghandi economy for villages or even now reelected Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India.
There are very narrow relation in villages, a natural solidarity for the surroundings, for the region. The Regional economy potential has been put in the shade because is slows down the Federalists control of the economy in tandem with their Industrialists Benefactors.
I will pursue my Regional Economy discoveries and understanding as time will allowed.
Snowy Owl