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The Competitiveness of Business Services in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and the South East of England

Author

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  • D M W N Hitchens

    (Department of Economics, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland)

  • P N O'Farrell

    (Department of Economics, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland)

  • C D Conway

    (Department of Economics, University of Durham, Durham DH1 3HP, England)

Abstract

In this paper we compare the competitiveness and performance of samples of business service offices located in two peripheral regions of the United Kingdom: Northern Ireland and Wales, and peripheral Republic of Ireland by making matched comparisons with counterparts in a core region—South East England. Offices in South East England are characterised by faster growth, higher productivity, wider markets, and greater export penetration than their counterparts in the other regions considered. The relative strengths, weaknesses, and constraints on raising productivity and competitiveness of peripherally located firms are examined. Special consideration is given to markets served, spatial structure of markets, locational constraints, and the adequacy of equipment and qualifications. An important factor influencing competitiveness is the ability of an office to provide high-quality specialist services, and alternative policies for achieving this aim are considered.

Suggested Citation

  • D M W N Hitchens & P N O'Farrell & C D Conway, 1996. "The Competitiveness of Business Services in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and the South East of England," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 28(7), pages 1299-1313, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:28:y:1996:i:7:p:1299-1313
    DOI: 10.1068/a281299
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Edward K. Y. Chen, 1979. "The Patterns of Economic growth," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Hyper-growth in Asian Economies, chapter 3, pages 28-41, Palgrave Macmillan.
    2. Kravis, Irving B, 1976. "A Survey of International Comparisons of Productivity," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 86(341), pages 1-44, March.
    3. Geroski, P A, 1991. "Innovation and the Sectoral," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 101(409), pages 1438-1451, November.
    4. Rory O'Donnell & Siobhan Kenny, 1993. "Ireland's Competitive Advantage: A Review of Some Measures," Papers WP041, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
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    Cited by:

    1. Matthias Firgo & Peter Mayerhofer, 2016. "Wissensintensive Unternehmensdienste, Wissens-Spillovers und regionales Wachstum. Teilprojekt 3: Zur Standortstruktur von wissensintensiven Unternehmensdiensten – Fakten, Bestimmungsgründe, regionalpo," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 59427.

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