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The Internationalisation of Production Activities of Italian Industrial Districts

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  • Giuseppe Tattara

    (Department of Economics, University Of Venice C� Foscari)

Abstract

This paper studies the evolution of the Italia industrial districts in the era of globalization. Italian districts are no longer self-contained systems of small firms where firms' competitiveness is the result of physical proximity, connected to foreign markets at the initial and the final stage of the production and distribution activity. Internationalization is analysed in the three classical forms of trade flows, foreign direct investments and foreign subcontracting. The conclusion discusses the consequences of sourcing production abroad for industrial districts. The loss of productive competences and practical knowledge, the reduction of employment and the change in the social climate that characterize the district. As a result of internationalization the final firms make profits in far away territories and the firm�s profitability is no more linked to the workers well being

Suggested Citation

  • Giuseppe Tattara, 2008. "The Internationalisation of Production Activities of Italian Industrial Districts," Working Papers 2008_13, Department of Economics, University of Venice "Ca' Foscari".
    • Handle: RePEc:ven:wpaper:2008_13
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    Cited by:

    1. Ana Colovic, 2012. "Territorial systems and relocation: Insights from eight cases in Japan," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(7-8), pages 589-617, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Globalization; Industrial districts; Sub-contractiong; Direct Foreign Investments;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • L16 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Industrial Organization and Macroeconomics; Macroeconomic Industrial Structure
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • L33 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Comparison of Public and Private Enterprise and Nonprofit Institutions; Privatization; Contracting Out

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