JORG MEYER-STAMER is founder and partner of mesopartner ParG, a research, training and consultancy firm specialized in territorial development. He is the author of various books and articles. He has also developed a number of methodologies that are used in territorial development across the world.JERRY HAAR is Associate Dean for International Affairs and Projects in the College of Business Administration at Florida International University, USA. Dr. Haar holds graduate degrees from Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and Harvard and has written twelve books and numerous articles.

• PART I: GENERIC ISSUES Introduction; J.Meyer-Stamer& J.Haar Local Development, Global Value Chains, and Latecomer Development; P.Knorringa& J.Meyer-Stamer Issues in Financing Small Enterprises; D.Riner The Unexpected Player: Small Firms in Business with Low-income Sectors; P.Marquez& E.Reficco Innovation and Entrepreneurship Among Born Global Enterprises; M.Renko& J.Haar PART II: COUNTRY CASE STUDIES Competitive Business Practices in Developing Economies: The Case of Small and Mid-size (SMEs) Companies in Mexico; J.Alonso Gomez Italian SMEs and Industrial Districts on the Move: Where are they Going?; A.Carabelli, G.Hirsch,& R.Rabellotti Globalization and Spain's SMEs; G.Cardoza& G.Fornes Unraveling Informal Entrepreneurship: Small Firm Clusters and Economic Ungovernance in Nigeria; K.Meagher Indian Small Firms under Globalization: Has Policy Helped?; K.Das Conclusion: Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Harsh Reality of SMEs in the New Global Economy; J.Haar& J.Meyer-Stamer