We examine the uneven employment changes in the Italian local labour systems (LLSs) in the 1990s. Using the 1991 and 2001 economic census data, we intend to compare the performance of different types of LLS, and particularly those of the industrial districts (IDs) and the large enterprise systems (LESs). The originality of the study lies in the territorial unit of analysis chosen: the 784 Italian LLSs. The analysed data show that, in the 1990s, the Italian IDs proved to be the country's most dynamic local systems. Moreover, the shift-and-share analysis demonstrates that the local effect in the IDs was positive enough to more than compensate for the negative industry mix. Conversely, in the LESs the local effect was so negative as to determine a total negative effect, despite the positive industry mix. We conclude with an overview of the present situation and the corresponding policy implications.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BarffRAKnightPL, 1988, âDynamic shiftâshare analysisâGrowth and Change191â10
2.
BecattiniG (Ed.), 1987Mercato e Forze Locali: Il Distretto Industriale (Il Mulino, Bologna)
3.
BecattiniG, 1990, âThe Marshallian industrial district as a socio-economic notionâ, in Industrial Districts and Inter-firm Co-operation in Italy Eds PykeFBecattiniGSengenbergerW (International Institute for Labour Studies, Geneva) pp 37â51
4.
BecattiniG, 1996, âI sistemi locali nello sviluppo economico italiano e nella sua interpretazioneâSviluppo Locale2â35â25
5.
BecattiniG, 2004Industrial Districts: A New Approach to Industrial Change (Edward Elgar, Cheltenham)
6.
BecattiniGBellandiM, 2002, âMighty Pygmies and feeble Watutsis. Consideration on Italian industryâReview of Economic Conditions in Italy3375â405
7.
BecattiniGColtortiF, 2006, âAreas of large enterprise and industrial districts in the development of post-war Italy: A preliminary surveyâEuropean Planning Studies141105â1138
8.
BecattiniGDei OttatiG, 2006, âThe performances of Italian industrial districts and large enterprise areas in the ninetiesâEuropean Planning Studies141139â1162
9.
BecattiniGMenghinelloS, 1998, âContributo e ruolo del made in Italy distrettuale nelle esportazioni nazionali di manufattiâSviluppo Locale95â41
10.
BecattiniGBellandiMDei OttatiGSforziF, 2003From Industrial Districts to Local Development: An Itinerary of Research (Edward Elgar, Cheltenham)
11.
BellandiM, 1999, âTerza Italia e distretti industriali dopo la seconda guerra mondialeâ, in Storia dell'Itali. L'industria. Annali n. 15 Eds. AmatoriFBigazziDGiannettiRSegretoL (Einaudi, Torino) pp 841â891
12.
BrioschiFBrioschiMSCainelliG, 2004, âOwnership linkages and business groups in industrial districtsâ, in The Evolution of Industrial Districts. Changing Governance, Innovation and Internationalisation of Local Capitalism in Italy Eds CainelliGZoboliR (Physica, Heidelberg) pp 155â174
13.
BruscoSPabaS, 1997, âPer una storia dei distretti industriali italiani dal secondo dopoguerra agli anni novantaâ, in Storia del Capitalismo Italiano dal Dopoguerra ad Oggi Ed. BarcaF (Donzelli, Roma) pp 265â333
14.
BruscoSCainelliGForniFFranchiMMalusardiARigettiR, 1996, âThe evolution of industrial districts in Emilia-Romagnaâ, in Local and Regional Response to Global Pressure: The Case of Italy and its Districts Eds CossentinoFPykeFSengenbergerW (International Institute for Labour Studies, Geneva) pp 17â36
15.
BurroniL, 2001Allontanarsi Crescendo. Politica e Sviluppo Locale in Veneto e Toscana (Rosenberg and Sellier, Torino)
16.
BurroniLTrigiliaC, 2001, âItaly: Economic development through local economiesâ, in Local Production Systems in Europe: Rise or Demise? Eds CrouchCLe GalèsPTrigiliaCVoelzkowH (Oxford University Press, Oxford) pp 46â78
17.
ColtortiF, 2004, âLe medie imprese industriali italiane: Nuovi aspetti economici e finanziariâEconomia e Politica Industriale1215â25
18.
ColtortiF, 2006a, âLe medie imprese italiane: Una risorsa cruciale per lo sviluppoâ, in Industria e Distretti. Un Paradigma di Perdurante CompetitivitĂ Italiana Eds CurzioQuadrio AFortisM (Il Mulino, Bologna) pp 315â361
19.
ColtortiF, 2006b, âEuropean and Italian multinationals: Vices and virtues since the 1980sâReview of Economic Conditions in Italy189â134
20.
ContiGCucculelliMParadisiM, 2007, âInternazionalizzazione e strategie delle imprese nei settori tradizionaliâL'industria1121â161
21.
CossentinoFPykeFSengenbergerW (Eds), 1996Local and Regional Response to Global Pressure: The Case of Italy and its Industrial Districts (International Institute for Labour Studies, Geneva)
22.
CrestanelloP, 1996, âThe industrial districts in Veneto: Changes and tendenciesâ, in Local and Regional Response to Global Pressures: The Case of Italy and its Industrial Districts Eds CossentinoFPykeFSengenbergerW (International Institute for Labour Studies, Geneva) pp 67â96
23.
CrestanelloPTattaraG, 2005, âConnessioni e competenze nei processi di delocalizzazione delle industrie venete dell'abbigliamento e delle calzature in RomaniaâEconomia e SocietĂ Regionale9063â99
24.
CrouchCLe GalèsPTrigiliaCVoelzkowH, 2001Local Production Systems in Europe: Rise or Demise? (Oxford University Press, Oxford)
25.
Dei OttatiG, 1996, âThe remarkable resilience of the industrial districts of Tuscanyâ, in Local and Regional Response to Global Pressure: The Case of Italy and its Industrial Districts Eds CossentinoFPykeFSengenbergerW (International Institute for Labour Studies, Geneva) pp 37â66
26.
Dei OttatiG, 2002, âSocial concertation and local development: The case of industrial districtsâEuropean Planning Studies4449â466
27.
Dei OttatiG, 2006, âEl efecto distrito: Algunos aspectos conceptualesâEconomia Industrial35973â79
28.
de NardisSTraĂšF, 1999, âSpecializzazione settoriale e qualitĂ dei prodotti: Misure della pressione competitiva sull'industria italianaâRivista Italiana degli Economisti2177â212
29.
FortisM, 1998Il Made in Italy (Il Mulino, Bologna)
GarofoliG, 2003, âDistretti industriali e processo di globalizzazione: Trasformazioni e nuove traiettorieâ, in Impresa e Territorio Ed. GarofoliG (Il Mulino, Bologna) pp 539â571
32.
HentonD, 2001, âLessons from Silicon Valley: Governance in a global city-regionâ, in Global City-regions: Trends, Theory, Policy Ed. ScottAJ (Oxford University Press, Oxford) pp 391â400
33.
IacobucciD, 2004, âGroups of small and medium-sized firms in industrial districts in Italyâ, in The Evolution of Industrial Districts Eds CainelliGZoboliR (Physica, Heidelberg) pp 128â154
34.
IPI, 2006I Distretti Industriali Individuati dall'Istat al Censimento 2001 (Instituto per la Promozione Industriale, Roma)
35.
ISTAT, 2005I Sistemi Locali del Lavoro 2001 (Instituto Nazionale di Statistica, Roma)
36.
ISTATSforziF, 1997I Sistemi Locali del Lavoro 1991 (Instituto Nazionale di Statistica, Roma)
37.
IuzzolinoG, 2004, âCostruzione di un algoritmo di identificazione delle realtĂ distrettuali sulla base di indicatori di aggregazione settorialiâ, in Economie Locali, Modelli di Agglomerazione e Aperture Internazionali. Nuove Ricerche della Banca d'Italia Sullo Sviluppo Territoriale (Banca d'Italia, Roma)
38.
MaddisonA, 1995Monitoring the World Economy (OECD, Paris) pp 34â95
39.
MarshallA, 1975The Early Economic Writings of Alfred Marshall: 1867â1890 edited by WhitakerJK (Macmillan, London)
PorterM, 1990The Competitive Advantage of Nations (The Free Press, New York)
42.
PykeFSengenbergerW (Eds), 1992Industrial Districts and Local Economic Regeneration (International Institute for Labour Studies, Geneva)
43.
PykeFBecattiniGSengenbergerW (Eds), 1990Industrial Districts and Inter-firm Cooperation in Italy (International Institute for Labour Studies, Geneva)
44.
SchmitzH, 2001, 2001, âLocal governance and conflict management: Reflections on a Brazilian clusterâ, in Global City-Regions: Trends, Theory, Policy Ed. ScottAJ (Oxford University Press, Oxford) pp 401â416
45.
SengenbergerWPykeF, 1992, âIndustrial districts and local economic regeneration: Research and policy issuesâ, in Industrial Districts and Local Economic Regeneration Eds PykeFSengenbergerW (International Institute for Labour Studies, Geneva) pp 3â29
