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GLOBALISATION AND GOOD WORK: IMPIVA, A SPANISH PROJECT TO REGENERATE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS
Author(s) -
HOLMSTRÖM MARK
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.766
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1467-9663
pISSN - 0040-747X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9663.2006.00359.x
Subject(s) - diversification (marketing strategy) , agency (philosophy) , autonomy , business , work (physics) , globalization , competition (biology) , competence (human resources) , local government , regional development , government (linguistics) , economic geography , regional science , marketing , political science , management , geography , market economy , public administration , economics , sociology , philosophy , law , mechanical engineering , ecology , social science , linguistics , biology , engineering
How can clusters of small and medium enterprises meet global competition? The point is not just to create jobs, but good work (decent conditions, autonomy, and opportunities to improve skills and build a career). Impiva, a Valencian regional government agency, has set up technological institutes for established industries, and local business innovation centres to back new projects, following the examples of Emilia Romagna (Italy), Baden‐Württemberg (Germany) and Denmark, though Spain lacks the levels of trust between entrepreneurs found in those regions. The Institute for toys (AIJU) is in Ibi, a town which makes most Spanish toys but must diversify because of Chinese competition; so AIJU has become an all‐purpose local development agency, like Baden‐Württemberg's technology transfer centres. The Baden‐Württemberg model – catering for established industries and diversification – can be adapted to local conditions. Places like Ibi can provide good work, if local firms keep some control over design, innovation and problem‐solving.