Regional Advantage

By AnnaLee Saxenian,

Book cover of Regional Advantage: Culture and Competition in Silicon Valley and Route 128

Book description

Why is it that in the '90s, business in California's Silicon Valley flourished, while along Route 128 in Massachusetts it declined? The answer, Annalee Saxenian suggests, has to do with the fact that despite similar histories and technologies, Silicon Valley developed a decentralized but cooperative industrial system while Route 128…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Regional Advantage as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Until the 1980s, it seemed like Route 128 in Massachusetts was set to be the dominant location for the tech industry. What could have been a dry look at comparative corporate organizational structures is instead a compelling analysis of the contrasting cultures, business climates, and other forces resulting in the ultimate victory of Silicon Valley. The book is full of fascinating details that I haven’t read anywhere else like the role that California community colleges played in ensuring companies could swiftly train new employees.

From Joanne's list on the origins of the tech industry.

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