This presents a puzzle: if the logic of globalization and existence of global production networks encourages industrial districts to narrow their scope and firms to seek global linkages for inputs, markets and knowledge, what accounts for the resiliency and emergence of some locally-integrated industrial districts? Markusen’s (1996) and Amin and Thrift’s (1992) research offers the contours of an a. [...] Since we try to understand the resiliency of some modules we also build on research that highlights the importance of tacit cooperation between local government and industry and the provision of semi-public goods for the viability of locally-integrated industrial districts in the globalized economy (Breznitz and Buciuni, 2015; Murphree et al., 2016; Tang et al., 2016). [...] According to the director of a local institution dedicated to training and professional development, improvement of suppliers’ technical skills is a key aspect of the organization’s agenda: We clearly understand how innovation develops in this industry and are aware that we and our firms need to do more to integrate the two supply chains co-existing in the district: the project and product develop. [...] The system addresses the challenge of access to capital by small-scale and highly specialized local entrepreneurs, who are generally ignored by the large banks, as explained by the head of the local industry association: BCCs played a fundamental role in the historical growth of the local district and in general in the development of many of the SMEs in this region. [...] In both cases, the emphasis on exports and needing to meet foreign demand and trends, as well as the presence of foreign lead firms producing in the region couples the industrial district to the global economy.
- Pages
- 42
- Published in
- Canada
