Changing Governance of Local Economies

Abstract

This book features case studies on national patterns of local production systems, focusing on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in France, Germany, Italy, and the UK. It is divided into three parts. Part I analyses the two cases that dominated the initial, 1980s industrial district literature: Emilia-Romagna and Baden Wurttemberg; and the machinery industry. Part II focuses on pre-crisis, large-firm, Fordist specialization. Part III presents examples of new industries where SME clusters are important: the biopharmaceutical industries around Oxford, the media sector in Cologne, information technology in Pisa, and computer technologies in Grenoble.

The failure of regulation: Work, environment and production at Taranto’s ILVA

“…By contrast, the evidence coming from other European steel localities shows that their transformation has hinged upon two key dimensions: the active involvement of qualified actors and the design and implementation of new economic strategies. This was the case in Duisburg, Germany, in Sheffield in the UK, and in St Etienne, France (Crouch et al, 2004), among others.…”

Varieties of city regionalism and the quest for political cooperation: a comparative perspective

“…This includes what some refer to as 'local collective competition goods.' See Crouch et al (2001Crouch et al ( , 2004. 3.…”

Global trends and crises, comparative capitalism and HRM

“…Thirdly, there are theories of capitalist diversity and change that synthesise the different strands of the literature on comparative capitalism (Lane & Wood, 2009). It is argued that the bounded and contingent nature of complementarity means that many firms will not reap the benefits the national system accords, and, hence, devise their own solutions (Crouch, 2005); such firms may cluster together in industrial districts, with close inter firm ties allowing for the rapid dissemination of knowledge and much flexibility in production (Crouch, Schroeder, & Voelzkow, 2009;Crouch & Voelzkow, 2004). Still others may partially opt out of the more voluntary features of the national system; this allows for lower cost models to coexist without endangering the system itself (Lane & Wood, 2009).…”