The Limits of Convergence

The Limits of Convergence
Author: Mauro F. Guillén
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 299
Release: 2010-07-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1400824206

This book challenges the widely accepted notion that globalization encourages economic convergence--and, by extension, cultural homogenization--across national borders. A systematic comparison of organizational change in Argentina, South Korea, and Spain since 1950 finds that global competition forces countries to exploit their distinctive strengths, resulting in unique development trajectories. Analyzing the social, political, and economic conditions underpinning the rise of various organizational forms, Guillén shows that business groups, small enterprises, and foreign multinationals play different economic roles depending on a country's path to development. Business groups thrive when there is foreign-trade and investment protectionism and are best suited to undertake large-scale, capital-intensive activities such as automobile assembly and construction. Their growth and diversification come at the expense of smaller firms and foreign multinationals. In contrast, small and medium enterprises are best fitted to compete in knowledge-intensive activities such as component manufacturing and branded consumer goods. They prosper in the absence of restrictions on export-oriented multinationals. The book ends on an optimistic note by presenting evidence that it is possible--though not easy--for countries to break through the glass ceiling separating poor from rich. It concludes that globalization encourages economic diversity and that democracy is the form of government best suited to deal with globalization's contingencies. Against those who contend that the transition to markets must come before the transition to ballots, Guillén argues that democratization can and should precede economic modernization. This is applied economic sociology at its best--broad, topical, full of interesting political implications, and critical of the conventional wisdom.

Consultancy and Innovation

Consultancy and Innovation
Author: Peter Wood
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 501
Release: 2003-09-02
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1135434298

Consultancy and Innovation links two important aspects of European economic development in the past thirty years: the pace of technical and management innovation, and the growing significance of technical and business consultancy. This book includes detailed studies of consultancy activities or 'knowledge intensive services' (KIS) in eight EU countries, written by national experts in the field.

European Economy

European Economy
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 856
Release: 1994
Genre: European Economic Community countries
ISBN:

Energy in Agroecosystems

Energy in Agroecosystems
Author: Casado
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 411
Release: 2017-01-12
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1315349906

Energy in Agroecosystems: A Tool for Assessing Sustainability is the first book on energy analysis that is up-to-date and specifically dedicated to agriculture. It is written from an agroecological perspective and goes beyond the conventional analysis of the efficient use of energy. The book provide a methodological guide to assess energy efficiency and sustainability from an eco-energetic point of view. Case studies from both Europe and America, which are representative of today’s most used scales of analysis (crop, farm, local or national) and the different farm management practices (traditional, industrialized, and contemporary organic), apply this methodology This book will be of primary interest to researchers, practitioners, and students working in the areas of agroecology, sustainable agriculture, environmental science, energy analysis, natural resources management, rural development and international development.

Creative Industries and Innovation in Europe

Creative Industries and Innovation in Europe
Author: Luciana Lazzeretti
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 330
Release: 2013
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0415677408

This text analyzes the impact of culture across the European continent, shedding new light on those countries with a rich and famous heritage such as Italy and France, but extending the study to newer forms of creativity.

Corporate Sustainability in International Comparison

Corporate Sustainability in International Comparison
Author: Stefan Schaltegger
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 269
Release: 2014-07-11
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3319062271

Although every country is distinguished by its history, culture and language as well as its unique economic, environmental and social conditions, it can be expected that international operating companies will exhibit common patterns since sustainability challenges do not stop at national borders. Building on original data based on results of the International Corporate Sustainability Barometer survey, this book depicts and analyzes the current state of corporate sustainability management and corporate social responsibility. Part I describe the approach and summarizes the broad results, outlining the methodology and offering an overview of results of the ICSB survey. Part II presents specific findings for each of eleven countries surveyed: Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA. Part III provides a comparative analysis and highlights broad patterns in the international results. Most strikingly, the book reveals surprisingly widespread similarities among the sustainability management practices of large companies in economically developed countries all over the world. All the survey results are analyzed according to the same Triple-I approach: Intention - Why do companies manage sustainability?; Integration - To what extent do companies embed sustainability in their core business and in their organization? And Implementation - How is corporate sustainability operationalized? Based on this structure the analysis serves not only to make comparisons and to investigate national characteristics; it also builds a foundation for examining whether there truly is a world-spanning common state of the art of corporate sustainability. Distinguished authors who were involved in the International Corporate Sustainability Barometer project offer their insights, identifying and discussing national and international patterns that can provide the basis for further ideas and inspiration to practitioners and researchers worldwide who are engaged in corporate sustainability.

The Internationalisation of the Spanish Automobile Industry and Its Regional Impact

The Internationalisation of the Spanish Automobile Industry and Its Regional Impact
Author: Arnoud Lagendijk
Publisher: Purdue University Press
Total Pages: 316
Release: 1993
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

This study is a contribution to this organisational approach of spatial-industrial change. The first part of the study is devoted to the development of a dynamic theory of location of production featuring the concept of the growth-periphery. The second part discusses a specific case of a growth-periphery, namely the rise of the automobile industry in Spain, highlighting the changes in the industrial and spatial organisation of the industry induced by increasing internationalisation of production.

Regional Development Agencies in Europe

Regional Development Agencies in Europe
Author: Charlotte Damborg
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 380
Release: 2017-09-29
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 1136036563

In the past decade Europe has seen much change, and at the same time the importance of the regional perspectives has significantly increased. Regional Development Agencies in Europe brings together experiences of Regional and Development Agencies throughout Europe to provide material for the first major comparative study of bottom-up regional policy across the continent. Using an analytical framework developed by editors, the contributors evaluate the long term potential and limitations of the RDAs in terms of promoting regional and economic development. Institutional and other preconditions for successful regional polices are identified, and combined with a broad analytical and geographical coverage that includes Eastern Europe, a clearer picture of the relevance of the RDAs emerges.