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Theorizing Cities as Sources of Firm Competitive Advantage: Accra in Comparative Perspective

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Book cover Africa’s Competitiveness in the Global Economy

Part of the book series: AIB Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Series ((AIBSSA))

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Abstract

In this chapter the competitiveness of Accra, Ghana, is compared to cities in other regions of the world. Integrating the resource-based view of the firm with other perspectives, the study theorizes the city as a bundle of resources including knowledge and capabilities that can confer some advantages on firms located within it. The study utilizes data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys to validate the arguments, bringing to the fore issues of resource advantages within specific locations, especially cities. In doing so, it makes a significant contribution, establishing a link between location theory (agglomeration and industrial complexes), the new economic geography, the new growth theory and resource-based theory (including capabilities).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Ghana Business School, Accra, Ghana

    George Acheampong & Obi Berko Damoah

Authors
  1. George Acheampong
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  2. Obi Berko Damoah
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Haslam College of Business, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA

    Ifedapo Adeleye

  2. Harvard University, MA, USA

    Mark Esposito

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Acheampong, G., Damoah, O.B. (2018). Theorizing Cities as Sources of Firm Competitive Advantage: Accra in Comparative Perspective. In: Adeleye, I., Esposito, M. (eds) Africa’s Competitiveness in the Global Economy. AIB Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Series. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67014-0_3

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