The role of Ireland in the new international division of labour: A proposed framework for regional analysis.

Sperrons D. C. (1981) The role of Ireland in the new international division of labour: a proposed framework for regional analysis, Reg. Studies 15, 81–100. This paper aims to justify and exemplify a new approach to regional analysis and then to outline how it might be used to account for Ireland's role in the new international division of labour. It argues that traditional location theory is unable to account adequately for the present structure of the Irish economy and proposes an alternative methodological approach which seeks to understand both the processes giving rise to the existing regional structure and to the formation of the fragmented units of production presently being established in Ireland. It concludes with some brief comments on the development potential of the new industrial structure. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]