Forms of place leadership in local productive systems: from endogenous rerouting to deliberate resistance to change

Place leadership (PL) influences the capability of places hit by disruptive challenges to react and reroute to new paths of development. Recent contributions consider the positive role of PL, while negative aspects are still under-investigated. This paper proposes a conceptual framework that, focusing on local productive systems (LPSs), explores PL’s dark side. Forms of PL accompanying LPSs show different degrees of openness and strength that interact with the same LPS structural features. Enclosed forms of PL, aiming to preserve restricted and well-established interests, might intentionally resist attempts of LPS rerouting if undermining such interests, albeit beneficial to the system overall.