Abstract
This special issue tackles two “trendy” topics much discussed at present by the community of scholars (and practitioners too) interested in regional economic development: systems and ecosystems. These metaphors have proved popular, and enduring, currently experiencing something of a buzz or moment in the sunshine. This special issue pushes them out of their comfort zone to explore contexts, elements, and approaches that have not yet been well explored in the literature to date. Contributions in this special issue cover a wide range of international cases and explore systemic perspectives on economic development placing institutional context and evolutionary dynamics at the core. © 2021 The Authors. Growth and Change published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.