Abstract

Input-output analysis is a powerful tool for in-depth study of the productive structure of economic space. Moreover, the sectoral network constitutes one of the possible determinants of the innovative capacity of a territory. The use of network theory in the input-output field supposes an interesting alternative that allows structural complexity, weakness and strength to be shown. Following this viewpoint, we analyse the relative position of each sector via the structural holes concept (Burt in Structural Holes, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1992; Social Capital: Theory and Research. Aldine de Gruyter, New York, 2001; Am J Sociol 110:349-399, 2004) to offer an approach to knowledge generation and diffusion capacity within the economic network. The theoretical background is based on the opportunities afforded due to connexion with and proximity to sectoral structure for knowledge transmission and consequently innovation capacity. This novel proposal is applied to the analysis of European and Spanish economies in 1995.