Understanding the role of innovation loop in attracting talent: a study of Italian smart cities
研究了意大利30个城市13年数据，发现智慧城市的创新循环（结合创新、经济环境和生活质量）能有效吸引人才，对政策制定者和城市规划者有参考价值。
Attracting and retaining talent remain pivotal in driving smart city initiatives. Although different strands of research suggest that smart cities promote urban innovation, innovative economic environment, and quality of life, a combination of which we call the ‘innovation loop’, there is a dearth of research that studies whether these advancements help smart cities attract talent. In this research, we examine the role of the innovation loop in attracting talent to smart cities. Focusing on the Italian context – a nation at the forefront of European smart city policies – we employ a spatial panel data approach covering 30 Italian cities over 13 years (2009–2021). Our results indicate a positive relationship between the innovation loop and attracting talent in smart cities. The study offers novel implications for stakeholders, including policymakers, urban planners, and entrepreneurs, supported by empirical evidence.