Actors and institutions in localities and regions across the world are seeking prosperity and well-being amidst tumultuous and disruptive shifts and transitions generated by: an increasingly globalised, knowledge-intensive capitalism; global financial instability, volatility and crisis; concerns about economic, social and ecological sustainability, climate change and resource shortages; new multi-actor and multi-level systems of government and governance and a re-ordering of the international political economy; state austerity and retrenchment; and, new and reformed approaches to intervention, policy and institutions for local and regional development. Local and Regional Development provides an accessible, critical and integrated examination of local and regional development theory, institutions and policy in this changing context. Amidst its rising importance, the book addresses the fundamental issues of 'what kind of local and regional development and for whom?', its purposes, principles and values, frameworks of understanding, approaches and interventions, and integrated approaches to local and regional development throughout the world. The approach provides a theoretically informed, critical analysis of contemporary local and regional development in an international and multi-disciplinary context, grounded in concrete empirical analysis from experiences in the global North and South. It concludes by identifying what might constitute holistic, inclusive, progressive and sustainable local and regional development, and reflecting upon its limits and political renewal.

A starter to the concepts of modularization and mass customization.

Condensed and application-oriented approach for a broad audience in engineering, production, sales and marketing.

Provides an extensive configurator evaluation checklist for future users and a supplement of business cases.

Analysis of Manufacturing Enterprises presents a unified and systematic treatment of manufacturing enterprises. These enterprises are networks of companies working in partnership. Such networks are a common occurrence in auto, grocery, apparel, computer and other industries; and competition is among enterprises rather than between individual companies. Thus, for these enterprises (global or local) to succeed, there is a need for systematically designing the enterprise-wide value delivery processes such as the order-to-delivery process, supply chain process, and new product development process. This calls for developing systematic analysis methodologies for evaluating the performance of value delivering processes. Analysis of Manufacturing Enterprises fills this vital need. The first part of the book focuses on foundations of manufacturing enterprises: the generic value delivery process, their performance measures and redesign to meet specifications on lead time and defect levels. The second part provides a clear and comprehensive discussion on new product development, order to delivery, and supply chain processes, which are core processes of a manufacturing enterprise. Analysis of Manufacturing Enterprises is an excellent resource for researchers and professionals in the field of manufacturing engineering.

Before entering the seemingly lucrative Chinese market, investors should be aware of the darkside of the current business environment. The risk of rampant corruption, economic, social and political problems, and threat to personal safety go along with the potential benefits of a thriving economy, rapid growth and swelling consumer demand. Dixon and Newman describe the Chinese business environment and its major players--the People's Liberation Army, the 'princelings'--and 'guanxi' (connections). In addition, they describe the plight of foreign business people who have recently found themselves in ugly personal situations because of China's lack of internationally accepted business practices and ethics, lack of institutionalized rule of law, and lack of an impartial law enforcement system. They conclude that any prospective business rewards must be discounted by the personal and personnel risks foreign businesses face when dealing with China.

Privatising firms and liberalizing their market environment generates in Eastern Europe a variety of problems, many of which are not common to the analogous attempts in industries countries. A first difference between the two experiences resides in establishing the value of the firm or of the assets that are being privatized. A second main difference concerns the lack of the record of market performance for the firm. The book explores these open questions through an overview of on-going and proposed processes in Section 1. In Section 2 theoretical foundations of privatization processes are proposed with respect to the financial market, industrial relations and foreign trade. A final key question is faced in Section 3: 'is there any alternative to privatization?'

Description
Innovation is universally recognized as an important source of economic growth. Patents may be considered as a potential measure of innovation. As such, patents may alter isoquant maps, and measuring their elasticities is both intuitively and empirically appealing. This book investigates the impact of U.S.A. patent activity on technical change in 35 industries given in the KLEM (Jorgenson, 1996) data set for the period 1958-1996. Four patent variables, namely total patent applications, total patents granted, unsuccessful patent applications and foreign patents granted, are introduced as technology-changing parameters into the generalized Fechner-Thurstone (GFT) production function to determine the effect on the elasticity of the marginal rate of technical substitution (MRTS) between inputs of the GFT production function over time. It is found that all four patent variables have significant impacts on the marginal rates of technical substitution between various production inputs over time, with foreign patents granted being the most "effective" parameter, and unsuccessful patent applications the least effective. In addition, the elasticity of the MRTS between materials and energy is found to be the most affected by patent activity, and that between materials and labor the least. The extent of technical change by patent activity varies across industries. Patent activity is found to be less effective as technology changes in some traditionally high patenting industries and more effective in others, which indicates that there are significant spillover effects of patents. Patent activity is found to have the greatest impact on technical change in the metal mining industryand the least impact in the chemicals industry.

This is the story of a major business enterprise. It describes the transformation of a small partnership, formed in 1759, into an international group, the scale of whose diverse activities has demanded the creation of a multi-divisional structure, supported by many specialist departments. Probably the most longeval of Britain's current manufacturing companies, GKN's history may be interpreted as a unique and revealing insight into Britain's industrial experience over past centuries.

This book discusses both competitive and game theory models of industry growth through new technology, innovations and new entry, and provides a comprehensive treatment of various dynamic models of entry, applications of efficiency and entry models in computers and the pharmaceuticals industry, and applied models of Differential Games. The book analyzes the theory of Schumpeterian innovations and its impact on the selection and adjustment process in industry evolution, and emphasizes the applied and empirical aspects of evolutionary dynamics, with a case study of the computer industry over the years 1985-2000.

The challenge of our time is the greening of products. Different tools and concepts to support this process have been developed in the past decade. Among others, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) appears as one of the most instructive management instruments for gaining insight into product-related environmental impacts and for supporting an effective integration of environmental aspects in business and economy. Research on LCA was and still is focused on improving the methodology. In fact, the "LCA technique" has significantly improved over the last few years. However, this research progress did nearly not stress the application context of LCA and its embodiment into business and industry. This is precisely the primary focus of the present book. Based on the empirical information of a large survey and of 20 company case studies, the book describes the set of applications and uses, as well as the dynamics of the adoption and integration patterns of LCA within business and industry.

This work examines the role of comptetence, organization and strategies of firms in industrial dynamics linking eceonomic, management and historical persectives. In the first part of the book, a series of economic and managerial contributions discuss the concepts, dimensions and effects of routines, competence, adaptation, learning, organizational structure and strategies in the evolution of industrial enterprises at the theoretical and empirical levels. In the second part of the book, a series of historical papers examine these issues in a long-term perspective for the United States, Japan and several European countries.

This superb text defines and describes modern industrial policy. For many years economists, politicians, and policymakers have worried over inward-looking and damaging industrial policies, associating them with poor economic performance and arrested industrial development. At last we have a book which identifies and analyses new forms of modern industrial policy which work effectively and are able to overcome the problems of the past. The book is replete with concrete examples and new conceptual developments, showing how modern industrial policy is able to initiate, upgrade, and transform economic activity for the benefit of all. The evidence is used to provide a new theory of industrial policy, distinguishing modern industrial policy from the practices of the past - leaving no room for doubt as to how policymakers should proceed in the twenty-first century. Essential reading for policymakers, analysts, scholars, teachers, and consultants concerned with industrial policy and modern economic development.' - Mike Hobday, University of Brighton, UK'Jesus Felipe is to be congratulated for assembling a first-rate group of authors to address one of the most important policy issues of our time. Their main contention is that, to succeed, latecomer developing countries need a 'modern industrial policy'. Aware of the pitfalls, they provide empirical evidence in support of their arguments. The country studies are particularly interesting. A stimulating volume that deserves to be read, including by the skeptics.' - Hal Hill, Australian National University Development and Modern Industrial Policy in Practice provides an up-to-date analysis of industrial policy. Modern industrial policy refers to the set of actions and strategies used to favor the more dynamic sectors of the economy. A key aspect of modern industrial policy is embedding private initiative in a framework of public action to encourage diversification, upgrading, and technological dynamism to achieve development in the twenty-first century. The book reviews key questions that policymakers ask about industrial policy, such as: who selects sectors; what is the rationale for sector selection; what are the main tools to promote sectors?, what is the role of human capital; and what are the mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation? Expert contributors discuss how to undertake industrial policy effectively and examine the experiences of Australia, the EU, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, and the US. Policymakers, multilateral development institutions, and scholars will find the discussions on industrial policy, structural transformation, economic diversification and upgrading, and capabilities to be useful and practical. Contributors: F. Block, J.-M. Chang, K. Farla, J. Felipe, F. Guadagno, C.A. Hidalgo, M.R. Keller, M.H. Khan, K. Lee, J.Y. Lin, C. Long, W.F. Mitchell, C. Rhee, T. Siew Yean, B. Verspagen, Y. Wang, X. Zhang

Europe's research and technology system is about to change with the introduction of a novel approach, labelled 'European Research Area' (ERA). This concept makes an attempt to break with the established mode of governance in Europe and seeks to advance European research collaboration and co-ordinate national research policies. Changing Governance of Research and Technology Policy is a unique collection analysing and commenting on the development of the ERA. The contributors include leading scholars of European integration and technology policy, and high-level administrators. They discuss the potential impacts, benefits and limits to research and innovation policy within Europe both in the short and long term. Moreover, the debate about ERA is placed firmly in the context of the overall changes in governance at the European level. The book will be essential reading for international researchers, policymakers and students interested in research, technology and innovation policy in Europe.

In about 40 years, Hong Kong has, against all odds, developed from a relatively obscure entrepot into a thriving industrial and financial economy of world renown. While such a complete metamorphosis constitutes an intriguing story, what of its future? Challenges of creeping, if not steadily proliferating, mercantilist forces and changing international division of labour aside, the capitalist city-economy of Hong Kong is now faced with the problem of changing governance. In all conscience, the future of Hong Kong, especially its post-1997 destiny as a free-market economy, as many have argued, hangs in the balance.;Focusing on relationships concerning trade in manufactures, industrial restructuring and economic development against a background of data, this book offers an examination of the evolution and characteristics of Hong Kong's postwar economy in a historical and comparative perspective, its symbiotic connection with South China in the light of China's open-door policy since late 1970s, as well as a thoughtful assessment of its current turning point.; Despite its emphasis on the economy of Hong Kong, this book has a broader objective - to contribute to the debate on alternative

This book presents the state-of-the-art in manufacturing engineering from the German perspective. Through the evaluation and analysis of the following 5 key issues: 1. Business Strategies. 2.Product Development. 3.Manufacturing Systems and Processes. 4.Production Plans. 5.The Environment, new manufacturing strategies to achieve a competitive edge are presented. The text is comprehensively supported by industrial examples from leading German and multi-national companies.

Made in Italy holds a highly significant position in the global luxury market, as an economic, cultural and social phenomenon and textbook example of the country-of-origin effect. Whilst in the past luxury was conceptualised as an exclusive benefit of the few, it is now a highly diversified ecosystem with disruptive challenges to its identity and authenticity, led by new customer segments. This book - through an analysis of diverse cases - answers the key issues in the industry of the new Made in Italy luxury, with a particular focus on sustainability. The book provides an in-depth view into luxury Made in Italy, from historical roots, heritage and tradition to major forces of change and innovative, entrepreneurial adaptations in the twenty-first century. It situates Made in Italy in the broader global context of change, with regards to the call for sustainable manufacturing and consumption. Written by an international pool of academics and experts in luxury brand management, the book presents a series of case studies to explore how the industry is responding to new consumer expectations and demand to maintain competitive advantage. This unique collection will be of interest for academics, scholars and upper-level students across the fields of luxury management and marketing, brand management, consumer behaviour as well as sustainability.

This scholarly yet accessible book provides an introduction to the main topics in production economics. The book successfully integrates two historically distinct perspectives on modeling technology: from microeconomics and engineering.

Some goods and services are normally left to the market mechanism. Health care is often described as an exception to the rule. Society wants care to be allocated equitably; it wants the financial burden to be kept within bounds; it wants treatments to be both medically effective and economically efficient. These shared concerns lead to a demand for State intervention which this book seeks impartially to appraise and evaluate.

The aim of this book is to contribute to the understanding of product innovation - how it takes place and how it affects firms and the economy. It links product innovation to interactive learning and to the performance of firms. It studies the interconnections between these three elements on the basis of unique data sets and detailed case studies. The book will prove helpful for managers, employees and policy makers as well as for scholars and students who want to understand the role of product innovation in the economy.
In the book it is shown that product innovation is of major importance. For the economy as a whole, the introduction of new products is fundamental for economic growth. Process innovation without product innovation would sooner or later result in economic stagnation and in what has been called ???technological unemployment???. In turbulent sectors product innovation is necessary for firms to survive and grow.
The book also shows that product innovation is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon. In order to capture this complexity authors combine different theoretical perspectives, different levels of aggregation, and different methodological approaches.

Conflict and Change in the Russian Industrial Enterprise focuses on the new kinds of conflict that arise in the transition to a market economy. Following an editorial introduction, two chapters develop theories from new empirical research into patterns of conflict and forms of trade unionism in Russian enterprises in the transition period. These are followed by a detailed case study of the development of an independent trade union in one large industrial enterprise, and a chapter which explores changes in the status hierarchy of the industrial enterprise. Two chapters then address the much-neglected issue of gender differentiation in the work place and both chapters question the supposed passivity of Russian women workers. The two final chapters address the issue of conflict and change in the external relations of enterprises through case studies of the process of bankruptcy and of conflict between insiders and outsiders.

This study is founded on several case studies which examine countries, including Thailand and Uganda, where impact analyses were done on World Bank loans dedicated to the expansion of higher education in science and technology. These two countries were chosen because they are in two different regions with dissimilar colonial histories and their loans are relatively recent. A case study on crossborder university partnerships also provides a model which other universities and development agencies may utilize when positioning higher education as a poverty reduction strategy. Delivering extensive frontline information on education, international development, and the challenges that follow, this book also includes a review of poverty reduction strategies as well as a theoretical framework that covers colonialism, development, and indigenous knowledge. This research conducted on the World Bank and the impact of its policies in two developing countries offers primary source information on work related to the topic. A major portion of the book looks at the effort put forth by U.S. universities in partnership with universities in developing countries for the purpose of using knowledge creation and dissemination as a poverty reduction strategy. The policy recommendations presented are useful for international development agencies like the World Bank, and the model demonstrated can be used by universities interested in cross-border partnerships across lines of economic development. This book will be invaluable to educational researchers, qualitative and ethnographic researchers, international development specialists, and scholars in international education.

This book delves into the nature of governance in Asia both at government and corporate level. It reviews the history and suggests potential solutions for years of underperformance due to the corrupt practices that have developed because of a poor understanding of corporate governance. The authors are experts in practices in Asia and their views are expressed in a sympathetic manner, at no time insisting that a western model of governance is correct. Instead the authors advise local models appropriate to the state of development and suggest that individual countries institute behavioral models that will mature as nations quickly develop in an increasingly global world.