This insightful book shows how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from some of the traditionally less dynamic peripheral economies of the ?old? EU ? namely Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain ? have responded to the twin challenges of globalisation and industrial restructuring. Through a series of unique case studies the contributing authors discuss how these economies, and in particular the SME sector, can be transformed. The book begins by examining the key drivers of the globally competitive SME sector in the EU, before moving on to explore the relationship between multinational enterprises (MNEs), SMEs and industrial development. The authors investigate important policy implications and provide lessons for SME development and growth.With empirical and theoretical contributions on SMEs in both the manufacturing and the services sectors, this essential book will be invaluable for researchers and policymakers in small business economics and management. Postgraduate students of entrepreneurship, business economics, industrial economics and European studies will appreciate this unique set of insights.

After years of official disrepute, industrial policy (IP) is back in vogue at regional, national and international levels driven by concerns over competitiveness, globalisation, de-industrialisation, unemployment and the comparatively slow growth of the EU economy especially in this post-recession phase. At the same time, IP has been seen as a catalyst for designing economic recovery strategies at regional, national and international levels, as well as being a concerted strategy to develop new 'clean-tech' industries to tackle environmental challenges. If anything, the recent global recession and credit crunch have highlighted the fragility of some states' and localities' economic development paths and the unbalanced nature of their economies, in terms of an over-reliance on sectors such as retail, financial services, and construction, to the detriment of manufacturing. This also suggests an accompanying need for greater economic diversity so as to avoid over-dependencies on certain sectors, and a better balance of ownerships forms. But what should be the shape of IP in the wake of the crisis and how can IP rebalance economies, help support sustainable development and catalyse new technologies and innovations whilst learning lessons from past experience and debate? This edited volume examines these questions through a wide range of diverse contributions from expert international authors. This book was originally published as a special issue of Policy Studies.

After years of official disrepute, industrial policy (IP) is back in vogue at regional, national and international levels driven by concerns over competitiveness, globalisation, de-industrialisation, unemployment and the comparatively slow growth of the EU economy especially in this post-recession phase. At the same time, IP has been seen as a catalyst for designing economic recovery strategies at regional, national and international levels, as well as being a concerted strategy to develop new 'clean-tech' industries to tackle environmental challenges. If anything, the recent global recession and credit crunch have highlighted the fragility of some states' and localities' economic development paths and the unbalanced nature of their economies, in terms of an over-reliance on sectors such as retail, financial services, and construction, to the detriment of manufacturing. This also suggests an accompanying need for greater economic diversity so as to avoid over-dependencies on certain sectors, and a better balance of ownerships forms. But what should be the shape of IP in the wake of the crisis and how can IP rebalance economies, help support sustainable development and catalyse new technologies and innovations whilst learning lessons from past experience and debate? This edited volume examines these questions through a wide range of diverse contributions from expert international authors. This book was originally published as a special issue of Policy Studies.