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Amighini A., Leone M. and Rabellotti R. Persistence versus change in the international specialization pattern of Italy: how much does the 'district effect' matter?, Regional Studies. This paper investigates the evolution of specialization patterns for the Italian provinces over the period 1995-2005 by analysing the dynamics of the sectoral distribution in the Balassa index of revealed comparative advantages. The results show that underlying a relatively stable distribution of national comparative advantages over time, there are wide variations in local performance: only a few provinces demonstrate any stability in their specialization over the last decade, with the majority showing decreased specialization. A higher average degree of persistence for provinces with districts is found, but no systematic differences between provinces with or without industrial districts. District provinces show wide variation, with a few concentrating on their past comparative strengths, but many diversifying. [image omitted] Amighini A., Leone M. et Rabellotti R. La continuite contre le changement dans la distribution internationale de la specialisation de l'Italie: dans quelle mesure 'l'effet district' importe-t-il?, Regional Studies. Cet article cherche a etudier l'evolution de la distribution de la specialisation pour les provinces italiennes sur la periode de 1995 a 2005 en analysant la dynamique de la distribution sectorielle au sein de l'indice de Balassa des avantages comparatifs decouvertes. Les resultats laissent voir que de grandes variations de la performance locale etayent une distribution des avantages comparatifs nationaux relativement stable sur le temps: il n'y a qu'une poignee de provinces qui demontrent aucune stabilite de leur specialisation sur les dix dernieres annees, et la majorite montrent une baisse de leur specialisation. Il s'avere une propension moyenne a la continuite plus elevee pour les provinces dotees de districts, mais il ne s'avere aucune difference systematique entre les provinces dotees de districts industriels et celles qui ne le sont pas. Les provinces dotees de districts montrent une importante variation, dont quelques-unes se concentrent sur leurs avantages comparatifs du passe, mais dont beaucoup se diversifient. Differenciation intraregionale Dynamique de la specialisation en exportations Districts industriels Italie Amighini A., Leone M. und Rabellotti R. Persistenz und Veranderung bei den internationalen Spezialisierungsablaufen in Italien: Welche Rolle spielt der 'Bezirkseffekt'?, Regional Studies. In diesem Beitrag untersuchen wir mit Hilfe einer Analyse der Dynamik der sektoralen Verteilung im Balassa-Index der offenbarten komparativen Vorteile die Entwicklung der Spezialisierungsablaufe fur die italienischen Provinzen im Zeitraum von 1995 bis 2005. Aus den Ergebnissen geht hervor, dass sich hinter einer relativ stabilen zeitlichen Verteilung der nationalen komparativen Vorteile starke Schwankungen hinsichtlich der lokalen Leistungsfahigkeit verbergen: Nur wenige Provinzen erwiesen in den letzten zehn Jahren bei ihrer Spezialisierung als stabil, wahrend die Spezialisierung bei den meisten Provinzen nachliess. Bei Provinzen mit Bezirken wurde ein hoheres durchschnittliches Mass an Persistenz festgestellt, ohne dass aber systematische Unterschiede zwischen Provinzen mit und ohne Industriebezirken gefunden werden konnten. Provinzen mit Bezirken weisen hohe Schwankungen auf, wobei sich einige auf ihre fruheren komparativen Starken konzentrieren, wahrend viele andere sich diversifizieren. Intraregionale Differenzierung Dynamik der Exportspezialisierung Industriebezirke Italien Amighini A., Leone M. y Rabellotti R. Persistencia frente a cambio en la especializacion internacional de Italia: ¿que importancia tiene el 'efecto de las comarcas'?, Regional Studies. En este articulo examinamos la evolucion de los modelos de especializacion para las provincias italianas durante el periodo de 1995 a 2005 analizando las dinamicas de la distribucion sectorial en el indice de Balassa de las ventajas comparativas reveladas. Los resultados muestran que bajo una distribucion temporal relativamente estable de las ventajas comparativas nacionales, ocurren amplias variaciones en el rendimiento local: en los ultimos diez anos solamente una pocas provincias han mostrado estabilidad en su especializacion mientras que una mayoria muestra una disminucion en las especializaciones. En las provincias con comarcas se observa un grado medio superior de persistencia pero no hay diferencias sistematicas entre las provincias con o sin comarcas industriales. Las provincias con comarcas muestran una variacion amplia; algunas se concentran en sus ventajas comparativas previas pero muchas se diversifican. Diferenciacion intrarregional Dinamicas de la especializacion de exportacion Comarcas industriales Italia [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to analyse the nature and extent of knowledge and information networks in an Italian wine cluster. Moreover, the relation between firms' characteristics and the knowledge network structure is also explored. The empirical findings show that knowledge is unevenly distributed in clusters and that networks of knowledge and information differ a great deal in terms of their structure. In fact, knowledge flows are restricted to a tightly connected community of local producers, differing in terms of knowledge assets, innovation behaviour and overall economic performance with respect to the rest of the firms in the cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the second half of the 1990s the Italian economy has experienced a significant slowdown in the rate of economic growth. The “dwarfism” of its manufacturing firms, their specialization in traditional sectors and their organization in industrial districts have been identified by many scholars as major structural weaknesses in the Italian industrial system. Nevertheless, there is a vast and flourishing empirical literature showing that many industrial districts are actually changing in terms of sector specialization, international and innovation strategies and emergence of new forms of enterprise organization. In this paper, we provide a critical survey of the new and different patterns of industrial organization emerging in industrial districts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of globalization of production on the Italian footwear sector and investigates the structural changes taking place in some shoe districts as they join international production networks. The following questions are discussed: Are Italian footwear districts specializing in particular phases of the production cycle? Is there a trend towards the reduction of activities carried out within districts? Or are different patterns emerging according to the districts' main market segment and to the value chains (e.g. luxury fashion market or mass market) they belong to? The study explores these issues using data on outward processing trade (OPT) collected by Associazione Nazionale Calzaturieri Italiani (ANCI) to analyse the fragmentation of production in the footwear sector at “provincia” level. The available disaggregation of data allows an investigation of the different outsourcing strategies and emerging trends within the district. Two case studies are presented; one on Riviera del Brenta in Veneto and the other on Barletta in Puglia. In the footwear districts investigated, evidence of different international delocalization strategies is found. It is argued that these different patterns of specialization are closely related to the clusters' market position and suggest that these patterns influence the clusters' potential for future competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a comparison between the ideal-typical industrial district as defined in the literature, footwear clusters in Italy and in Mexico. Description of the model; Italian footwear industry; Mexican footwear industry; Italian districts of Brenta and Marche; Mexican districts of Guadalajara and Leon.

Summary: From a development perspective an investigation of the changes that have occurred in the wine industry is of particular interest because it provides evidence on how emerging economies have been able to acquire significant shares of the international market in a dynamic sector. Based on novel empirical evidence, this paper shows that emerging countries with diverse institutional models and innovation strategies have actively participated in the process of technological modernization and product standardization. These newcomers in the wine sector have responded particularly effectively to changes in demand, aligning emerging scientific approaches with institutional building efforts and successful marketing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]