Edizioni FrancoAngeli - Last issue of QA Rivista dell’Associazione Rossi-Doria (1/2013)

High Tech and Mezzogiorno: Industrial Development and Public Policies

Sat, 15 Mar 2013 8:00:00 GMT

Domenico Cersosimo, Gianfranco Viesti
We study six high tech areas in the Mezzogiorno through in-depth field research. The starting point of these industrial systems is always the opening of a large new plant owned by a large firm. Other large firms follow, together with new locally-owned small and medium enterprises. These developments are due only in part to subcontracting,qualified human capital being the key issue (with a circular causal relationship with firm good performance), together with new research activities, both inside the firm and in cooperation with the local Universities. Public policies are crucial. However, the effectiveness of national industrial policies has declined, with growing uncertainties for the future. EconLit Classification: L620, L630, L860, O250, R110, J240

Foreign Investments and Local Development: The ICT System in the Province of L’Aquila

Sat, 15 Mar 2013 8:00:00 GMT

Lelio Iapadre
The ICT production system that can be identified in the Province of L’Aquila consists of two segments: the remains of the L’Aquila electronic hub, which has been in crisis since the eighties, and the Marsican area, dominated by the Micron plant. Both clusters were generated by the "extraordinary intervention" policies for the Mezzogiorno, and are exposed to strong international competition in the challenging circumstances brought about by the 2009 earthquake. Firms in the system have fruitful relations with the University of L’Aquila and other research centres, but their links with the local economy are weak. Regional policies aim at creating an innovation pole led by Micron. EconLit Classification: L630, O300, P25, R120, R580

Regional Policies for a Global Industry? Some Reflections on the Aerospace System in Puglia

Sat, 15 Mar 2013 8:00:00 GMT

Nicola D. Coniglio
The aim of this paper is to describe the recent evolution of the Apulian aerospace cluster and critically analyze the role of regional industrial policies in a "global" industry. Industrial policy at the regional level shows some shortcomings, and could serve for a second-best solution in the absence of a national strategy in the current Italian framework. We argue that a "normalization" of industrial policy and a clear division of labour between the different government levels is needed in order to avoid erosion of Italy’s comparative advantage in high tech industries characterized by strong market failures. EconLit Classification: R500, L520, L600

The Aerospace Productive System in Campania. Recent Dynamics and Development Prospects

Sat, 15 Mar 2013 8:00:00 GMT

Pierfelice Rosato
The aim of this paper is to describe the structure and the main competitive dynamics of the Aerospace productive system in Campania. After a preliminarily on-desk analysis, on-deep interviews were held with qualified regional stakeholders in order to analyze relations among enterprises and their main export markets. Great attention is given to their connection with local research centres, including the training of specialized human capital. Description of the public policies in support of the industry is followed by some brief observations on the productive system’s development prospects. EconLit Classification: M20, R500, L520, L600

The Apulian Mechatronics District: Recent Changes and Development Prospects

Sat, 15 Mar 2013 8:00:00 GMT

Francesco Prota
This paper analyses the Apulian mechatronics district, and in particular recent developments during the global economic crisis that began in 2008, as well as the role played by public policies in favouring the birth and endurance of the local production system. Although it is going through a delicate phase, the local production system has the potential for further development. An important role in supporting its development can be played by public policies with measures designed, on the one hand, to increase the number of economic players and, on the other hand, to boost the technological content and competitiveness of local enterprises. EconLit Classification: R110, O180, L220

Catania’s Electronic Production System

Sat, 15 Mar 2013 8:00:00 GMT

Maurizio Avola, Alberto Gherardini, Rosanna Nisticò
This paper analyzes the recent transformations of the electronic production system in Catania. During the Nineties, this local system went through a period of rapid growth thanks to the convergence of public policies, a social capital building process, the consolidation of specific human capital and the leadership of some local institutional actors. In recent years, however, Catania’s electronic sector has been going through a phase of slowdown and repositioning due to endogenous factors (institutional detachment) and external dynamics (economic crisis, increasing organizational differentiation and complexity in the sector, gradual eastward shift of the value chain). EconLit Classification: I230, L220, O180, O310, Z130

Information and Communication Technologies: Cagliari’s Production System

Sat, 15 Mar 2013 8:00:00 GMT

Dolores Deidda
This article analyzes the evolution of Cagliari’s local ICT system. Established at the end of the 1990s, the local system benefitted from three factors: highly skilled researchers; industrial application of research results; and a local firm eager to achieve first mover advantage. Recently, despite the economic crisis, the Cagliari ICT system has shown signs of recovery stimulated by a new generation of entrepreneurs capable of competing in ICT service market niches at the global level At this stage public policies do not seem to be playing a role capable of fostering innovation processes, as they had done in the local system’s early stages. EconLit Classification: L250, L860, M130, R580