Networked Firm in a Global World

Eirik Vatne Professor of Economic Geography, Department of Economics - Economic Geography section, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Norway. Michael Taylor Professor of Economic Geography, Department of Geography, University of Portsmouth, UK.

'There is much to be recommended in this book, particularly the genersal approach in which empirical insights are drawn upon to advance theoretical debates on the nature of interfirm relationships, agglomeration and innovation...' Progress in Human Geography

• Contents: Small firms, networked firms and innovation systems: an introduction, Eirik Vatne and Michael Taylor. Small Firms Versus Large Firms: Efficiency, Flexibility and Industrial Policy: Small and medium enterprises in space: the plural economy, Sergio Conti; Industrial network formation and regulation: the case of Japan’s SME policy, Yuko Aoyama. The Role of Smaller Firms in Complex Production Systems: Challenges and pathways for small firm sub-contractors in an era of global supply chain restructuring, Poul Rind Christensen; Industrial change and local competitive advantage: industrial production systems in Turin, Paolo Giaccaria; Sub-contractors, supplier parks and supply chain management: the case of Volvo’s arendal supplier park, Claus G. Alvstam and Anders Larsson; The unresolved question of new versus old: technological change and organizational response in the German chemical industry, Harald Bathelt. Localized Resources and Localized Learning: A Competitive Advantage?: Localized knowledge, interactive learning and innovation: between regional networks and global corporations, Bjorn T. Asheim and Arne Isaksen; Enterprise, power and embeddedness: an empirical exploration, Michael Taylor; Explaining the internationalization of SMEs: the importance of internal and local resources, Heikki Eskelinen and Eirik Vatne; Decline and renewal in industrial districts: the exit strategies of SMEs in consumer goods industrial districts of Germany, Eike W. Schamp; Modernizing the industrial district: rejuvenation or managerial colonization?, Bengt Johanisson; Notes; References; Index.