Month: June 2016

COMPETITIVE SUCCESS OF INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS: AN EXPLORATIVE STUDY IN ITALY

Nunzia CARBONARA

DIMEG, Politecnico di Bari, Bari, Viale Japigia, 182, 70126 , Italy. Tel: +390805062720.
nunzia.carbonara@poliba.it
(Corresponding author)

Ilaria GIANNOCCARO

DIMEG, Politecnico di Bari, Bari, Italy

Abstract

The paper conducts an explorative research on the competitive success of the Industrial Districts IDs (GCs), due to their capacity to adapt and evolve to the environment. Our aim is to identify the ID structural features supporting adaptation by using the complexity theory. We consider the IDs as complex adaptive systems (CASs) and identify the ID features on the basis of the main CAS properties that foster adaptation, i.e. interconnectivity, heterogeneity, and control. To formulate the theory linking the values of the ID structural features with the ID competitive success, a multiple case study is carried out. In particular, it is aimed at comparing IDs with different competitive performances in terms of their CAS properties using network theories and measures. Three theoretical propositions are finally derived.

Keywords: Industrial districts, complex adaptive systems, network, complexity science, adaptive capacity

JEL classification:
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MAPPING THE SECTORAL CONCENTRATION OF THE WORKFORCE ACROSS EU REGIONS, 2009-2013

Emily VGENOPOULOU

Athens University of Economics and Business

George ECONOMOU

Athens University of Economics and Business

Pródromos PRODROMÍDIS

Athens University of Economics and Business, Centre for Planning and Economic Research, Postal address: KEPE, 11 Amerikis str., Athens 15342, Greece.
pjprodr@kepe.gr
(Corresponding author)

Abstract
The paper explores the evolution of the sectoral concentration of regional workforces across the EU’s 272 NUTS level II territories and 42 territories of associated countries in the wake of the international financial and economic crisis (2009) up to 2013 through the use of location quotients (27.5 thousand computations). Bird’s eye views of the findings, in the form of maps, are attached.
Keywords: Territorial sector concentration, location quotient, specialization and localization, regional workforce, EU
JEL classification: R12
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A STOCHASTIC MODEL OF MIGRANT RESCUE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Amitrajeet A. BATABYAL

Department of Economics, Rochester Institute of Technology, 92 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623-5604, USA.
aabgsh@rit.edu

Hamid BELADI

Department of Economics, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249-0631, USA.
Hamid.Beladi@utsa.edu

Abstract
We theoretically study the rescue of destitute migrants seeking to reach Europe on boats across the Mediterranean Sea. To this end, we first construct a discrete-time Markov chain (DTMC) model of a stylized rescue process. Second, we specify the one-step transition probabilities of the DTMC. Third, we delineate a recursive algorithm that can be used to compute the limiting or steady-state probabilities of our DTMC model. Finally, we use these limiting probabilities to compute the average throughput. This metric is an efficiency measure and it tells us the long run expected number of migrants that are rescued by the stylized rescue process under study.
Keywords: Markov Chain, Mediterranean Sea, Migrant, Rescue, Uncertainty
JEL classification: J61, D81
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