Georgina M. Gómez is Senior Lecturer in Institutions and Local Development at the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands. She has published on alternatives of local economic development, complementary currency systems in Argentina and institutions. Peter Knorringa is Professor of Private Sector and Development at the International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands. He is principal researcher of the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Frugal Innovation in Africa, and coordinator of the Consumer-Civil society work package, ESRC-funded programme on Rising Powers, Labour Standards and the Governance of Global Production Networks.

• Introduction to Local Governance, Economic Development and Institutions: Essays in Honour of AHJ (Bert) Helmsing; Georgina M. Gomez, Peter Knorringa and Ariane A. CorradiPART I. LOCAL GOVERNANCE: PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT AMBITIONS, DECENTRALISATION AND CONTINUED INFORMALITY1.Governance and Development: The Importance of Legitimacy and Institutional Change; Eduardo Wills Herrera2.Decentralisation and Local Governance Approach: A Prospect for Implementing the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals; Nicholas Awortwi3.Enhancing Service Delivery at the Local Level in Zimbabwe: Challenges and Future Prospects; Takawira Mumvuma4.Digitisation and Participation in Urban Governance: The Contribution of ICT-Based Spatial Knowledge Management in Indian Cities; Isa Baud5.Housing Disablement: Market Failures, Haphazard Policies and the Global Proliferation of Slums; Erhard Berner6.From Development Aid to Fostering Global Public Goods, the Role of Institutions and Institutional Change; Meine Pieter van DijkPART II. WHERE VALUE CHAINS AND LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEET: POWER ASYMMETRIES, AGENCY, AND THE ROLE OF TRUST7.Effectiveness and Pertinence of Public-Private Partnerships to Promote Regional Competitiveness at the Level of Value Chain. The Case of Colombia; Alexander Blandón López8.Governance Dynamics: Textile, Talavera-Style Ceramic and Fireworks Production in Central Mexico; Rocío Rosales Ortega, Víctor ManuelVelázquez Duran and Jessica Mariela Tolentino9.Building Local Agency: The Case of a Nicaraguan Association in the Coffee Global Value Chain; Georgina M. Gomez10.Global Value Chains and Inclusive Development: Unpacking Smallholder Producers' Agency; Sietze Vellema11.At the Frontier of Economic Development: Unravelling Institutional Change in Fragile Environments; Holly A RitchiePART III. HOW ACTORS CO-SHAPE AND ADAPT TO EVOLVING INSTITUTIONS TO LEVERAGE THEIR RESOURCES12.Beyond Friend or Foe: Foreign Investment, Responsible Business and Local Development in Africa; Guus (A.C.M.) van Westen and Annelies (E.B.) Zoomers13.Incorporating Smallholders' Values into Value Chains through Partnerships; Joy Clancy and Avinash Narayanaswamy14.Brazilian Business Incubators: Brokerage in a Multi-Actor Approach to Local Economic Development; Ariane Agnes Corradi15.Absorptive Capacity and Local Networking of Home-Based Enterprises in 'Kampong Cyber', Yogyakarta, Indonesia; Jan Fransen and Pahala H.L. Gaol16.Auto Mechanics and Business Practices in Ghana; Jerome Rudolf Awortwe-Abban