Industrial distric essay

2008 - 2010 CoDe - JOINT EUROPEAN MASTER IN COMPARATIVE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

University of Trento (coordinator)

Corvinus University of Budapest

University of Regensburg

University of Ljubljana

ECONOMIC PROGRAM ESSAY

CHARACTERISTICS OF INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS AND THE CONNECTIONS WITH LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Student: Area Co-Ordinator: Tutor: Date:

Luis Felipe Sáez CollantesProfessor Italo Trevisan Pott. Mirko Vicari 15 / 01 / 2009

CoDe - Joint European Master in Comparative Local Development
TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms List of Tables and Figures Industrial Districts and Local Economic Development I. Introduction II. Conceptual Framework A. Industrial Districts 1. Industrial Clusters 2. Firm Clusters B. Local Economic Development III.Analysis of Industrial Districts A. Origins of Industrial Districts 1. General Conditions 2. The Italian Experience a. Cultural Aspects b. Institutional Aspects c. Others Aspects B. Characteristics 1. Area of Influence a. Geographical b. Social c. Economic 2. Unintended Effects C. Evolution of Industrial Districts IV. Industrial Districts and Local Development A. The Connections with LED B. TheEffects on LED V. Conclusions A. The Virtuous Circle B. The Benefits of Learning VI. Appendices A. Appendix I: Human Development Index (HDI). VII. Bibliography

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CoDe - Joint European Master in Comparative Local Development

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

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EU: HDI: ICI: ID: LED:MID SC: SMEs: TNCs: UNDP:

European Union Human Development Index Information, Computer and Telecommunication Industrial Districts Local Economic Development Marshallian Industrial District Social Capital Small and Medium Enterprise Transnational Corporations United Nations Development Program.

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CoDe - Joint European Master in Comparative Local Development

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURESNOT APPLICABLE

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CoDe - Joint European Master in Comparative Local Development
ECONOMIC PRE-PROGRAM ESSAY

“DESCRIBE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS. EXPLAINING THE CONNECTIONS WITH LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT”

I. Introduction From the point of view of human beings and their life in society, it is possible understand the concept of development as the transformationexperienced by individuals and society in different fields and areas that determine its condition and quality of life.

For that reason, considering that the development always is a local issue, as well the local economic development (LED) must to be the increase of wealth and the quality of life for a defined community, this paper addresses the relationship between Industrial Districts (ID) and LED,establishing the meaning of each concepts, its main characteristics and the contribution of ID in to “build up the economic capacity of a local area for to improve its economic
future and its quality of life1”.

Consequently the main focus of this essay is to describe how LED in search of a better quality of life for a defined population and the ID like a form of association between firms andpeople in a particular area, converge and can be seen as a process in which public sector, companies and nongovernmental sector partners work collectively for to create better conditions for economic growth and employment generation.

II. Conceptual Framework A. Industrial Districts (ID) I think it is very appropriate to start this essay with the definition of Becattini (1990), who provides aconceptualization of the industrial
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World Bank Group Web Site. (2009). Topics, Urban Development, Local Economic Development. Available at: http://go.worldbank.org/VP5OQ7AWL1

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CoDe - Joint European Master in Comparative Local Development
district, defining it as: “[…] a socio territorial entity which is characterized by
the active presence of both a community of people and a...