As compared to a region with institutional thickness, a less favoured region. A region may be ‘thin’ if it is located far from relevant knowledge organizations; for example, the Finnish sub-region of Seinäjoki (Kosonen, ERSA Conference Papers No. 3, 112). Functionally, it may have small industrial milieux, a lack of relevant organizations, or its firms may lack collective learning; see Kira and Frieling (2007) J. of Wkplace Learn. 19, 5. This functional thinness can be a consequence of a region’s decision-making powers, financial resources, or policy orientation (Tödtling and Kaufmann (1999) Eur. Plan. Studs 7). See also Zimmerbauer (2013) Eur. Urb. & Reg. Studs DOI: 10.1177/0969776413512842.