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Producer Services and Systems of Flexible Production

Author

Listed:
  • William J. Coffey

    (Département d'études urbaines, University of Quebec at Montreal)

  • Antoine S. Bailly

    (Département de géographie, University of Geneva, Uni-Mail, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland)

Abstract

During the decade of the 1980s, regional science began to devote more and more attention to the influence of two phenomena upon the structure and functioning of the space-economy: (1) service activities, in general, and producer services, in particular, and (2) flexible production systems. This paper explores the extent to which these two major preoccupations of contemporary regional science can be integrated, and attempts to contribute to the understanding of the growth and location of producer services by examining the manner in which an analytical framework based upon flexible production may be applied to the latter. The exploration begins with a summary and criticism of the flexible production approach. This is followed by a discussion of the growth of producer services and of the trends towards the increasing externalisation of these activities. Next, the appropriateness of employing a flexible production framework in the case of producer services is examined. The significance of the concept of flexible production for understanding the location of producer services is then explored. Finally, the paper examines the effects upon the labour force of flexibility in the production and use of producer services.

Suggested Citation

  • William J. Coffey & Antoine S. Bailly, 1992. "Producer Services and Systems of Flexible Production," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 29(6), pages 857-868, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:29:y:1992:i:6:p:857-868
    DOI: 10.1080/00420989220080841
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Frank Moulaert & Erik Swyngedouw & Patricia Wilson, 1988. "Spatial Responses To Fordist And Post‐Fordist Accumulation And Regulation," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 64(1), pages 11-23, January.
    2. Williamson, Oliver E, 1981. "The Modern Corporation: Origins, Evolution, Attributes," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 19(4), pages 1537-1568, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. William B. Beyers, 1996. "Trends in producer services growth in the rural heartland," Monograph, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, number 1996tipsgitr, March.
    2. Makoto Okumura & Makoto Tsukai, 2014. "Business service location with spatially stochastic demands: agglomeration economies generated by interaction costs and localized uncertain demand – an optimal stock location model approach," Chapters, in: Charlie Karlsson & Börje Johansson & Kiyoshi Kobayashi & Roger R. Stough (ed.), Knowledge, Innovation and Space, chapter 7, pages 160-179, Edward Elgar Publishing.

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