Using the quadruple helix to design strategies for the green economy

This paper introduces green sustainable resources to the traditional triple helix of industry, academia and government, revealing the impact of geographical clusters and factor endowments on green competitiveness in the global economy. More specifically, this paper evaluates how water-intensive nations develop additional competitive advantages in a green economy. This analysis demonstrates that abundant water resources will not warrant economic growth per se but that incorporating a resource like water into a green quadruple helix will provide the framework needed to design and expand water-intelligent economies. This may result in a new generation of green products, services, and technologies capable of stimulating the world economy. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.