Regional development disparities characterise virtually all capitalist countries. The two dominant approaches to understanding them in the post-WWII period, the ‘old’ and ‘new’ paradigms, have focused on different regional industrial structures (old paradigm) and on different regional growth factors, particularly skills, innovation and entrepreneurship (new paradigm). Neither has looked at market structures and market power as explanatory factors.

In this seminar, Ivan will argue that this is a serious blind spot. Drawing on the monopoly capitalism, business studies, and political economy literatures, and using the UK as an example, he will set out an 'oligopolistic' framework for understanding regional disparities.

In this framework, large firms are the key to economic development, but the power of dominant oligopolistic firms also systematically hinders the development of poorer regions. These firms can outcompete smaller market entrants with ease, they exploit their weaker suppliers and mainly choose richer regions for investments in advanced activities. All of this is detrimental for the development of poorer regions.

Consequently, he argues that, if poorer regions are to get a chance to develop, the power of these firms needs to be tackled through interventionist policies and institutional reforms to democratise how they are run.

Ivan studied economics at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, where he followed a very pluralist program, extensively covering both mainstream and heterodox approaches.

He has a strong interest in economic development and political economy and later pursued an MPhil and a PhD in Development Studies, both at the University of Cambridge. He joined Anglia Ruskin University in April 2022, where he is currently Senior Lecturer.

His work mainly focuses on regional development, especially how oligopolistic market power hinders the development of poorer regions, and on industrial and innovation policies.