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Industrial districts and internationalization: the case of the agri-food industry in Modena, Italy

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  • Paola Bertolini
  • Enrico Giovannetti

Abstract

The paper explores the structural changes, in response to internationalization, in an important traditional activity (food chain, meat processing) in a typical ‘district area’. In the paper, attention is focused on the ‘Institutional structure of production’ (Coase, R. 1992) and the cluster is considered as a whole, as a complex economic player, capable of generating coherent action, regulated by institutional mechanisms, and founded on a set of ‘public assets’ which make up its ‘social capital’. The paper is based on many empirical studies and surveys aimed at exploring the structure of SMEs and the role of the local institutions: the changes observed over time and in response to internationalization underline the reinforcement of the activity's cluster configuration. These features emphasize the existence of a specific unit of analysis, indivisible from the individuals which constitute it. The discussion touches on the classical themes of the efficiency of the net-economy based on SMEs, and their prospects in a context of growing globalization. The paper does not aim to enter into the debate on the origins and mechanism of innovation. However, the case study does illustrate the strength of the hypothesis of a unit of analysis different from the firm for discussion of a number of topics: some empirical examples of innovation, of significance for the economic consolidation of the ID, highlight the importance of district relationships in the production and spread of innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Paola Bertolini & Enrico Giovannetti, 2006. "Industrial districts and internationalization: the case of the agri-food industry in Modena, Italy," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(4), pages 279-304, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:entreg:v:18:y:2006:i:4:p:279-304
    DOI: 10.1080/08985620600613761
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Geoffrey M. Hodgson, 1999. "Evolution and Institutions," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 1481.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sabatini, Fabio, 2009. "Does social capital create trust? Evidence from a community of entrepreneurs," AICCON Working Papers 58-2009, Associazione Italiana per la Cultura della Cooperazione e del Non Profit.
    2. Malesky, Edmund J. & Nguyen, Thang V. & Bach, Thang N. & Ho, Bao D., 2020. "The effect of market competition on bribery in emerging economies: An empirical analysis of Vietnamese firms," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    3. Amdam, Rolv Petter & Lunnan, Randi & Bjarnar, Ove & Halse, Lise Lillebrygfjeld, 2020. "Keeping up with the neighbors: The role of cluster identity in internationalization," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(5).
    4. Pierre-Jean Benghozi & Elisa Salvador, 2014. "Are traditional industrial partnerships so strategic for research spin-off development? Some evidence from the Italian case," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(1-2), pages 47-79, April.
    5. Lo, Fang-Yi & Bui, Quang-Tuan & Huarng, Kun-Huang, 2023. "The pace of international expansion for digital multinational enterprises," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    6. Kuhne, Bianka & Lambrecht, Evelien & Vanhonacker, Filiep & Pieniak, Zuzanna & Gellynck, Xavier, 2014. "Factors Underlying Farmers’ Decisions to Participate in Networks," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 4(3), pages 1-16, February.
    7. Nguyen, Thang V. & Le, Ngoc T.B. & Bryant, Scott E., 2013. "Sub-national institutions, firm strategies, and firm performance: A multilevel study of private manufacturing firms in Vietnam," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 68-76.
    8. José Miguel Giner-Pérez & María Jesús Santa-María, 2021. "Spatial Agglomerations in the Spanish Food Industry: Does Sectorial Disaggregation Matter?," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 44(5), pages 515-559, September.
    9. Maté-Sánchez-Val, Mariluz & Harris, Richard, 2018. "The paradox of geographical proximity for innovators: A regional study of the Spanish agri-food sector," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 458-467.
    10. Ornella W. Maietta & Cristian Barra & Roberto Zotti, 2017. "Innovation and University-Firm R&D Collaboration in the European Food and Drink Industry," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 68(3), pages 749-780, September.
    11. Marcello Stanco & Concetta Nazzaro & Marco Lerro & Giuseppe Marotta, 2020. "Sustainable Collective Innovation in the Agri-Food Value Chain: The Case of the “Aureo” Wheat Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-14, July.
    12. Martineau, Charles & Pastoriza, David, 2016. "International involvement of established SMEs: A systematic review of antecedents, outcomes and moderators," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 458-470.
    13. Elisa Pirlea & Mihai Anghel-Badescu, 2022. "Difficulties and Opportunities in Online Promoting and Selling Agri-Food Products," Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, Ovidius University of Constantza, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 0(1), pages 676-684, September.
    14. Michaela Trippl, 2011. "Low-Tech Innovation in a High-Tech Environment? The Food Industry in the Metropolitan Region of Vienna," ERSA conference papers ersa10p133, European Regional Science Association.
    15. Angela da Rocha & Beatriz Kury & Joana Monteiro, 2009. "The Role of Flagship Firms, External Actors and Support Institutions in the Emergence of Successful Export Activities in Brazil: Two Industrial Cluster Studies," Research Department Publications 3270, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    16. Mai, Nhat Chi, 2021. "Determinants of successful adoption of the Balanced Scorecard in Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises," OSF Preprints 5hx2r, Center for Open Science.
    17. Bakarić Ivana Rašić, 2017. "The impact of cluster networking on business performance of Croatian wood cluster members," Croatian Review of Economic, Business and Social Statistics, Sciendo, vol. 3(2), pages 39-61, December.
    18. Trippl, Michaela, 2010. "Low-tech innovation in a high-tech environment? The case of the food industry in the Vienna metropolitan region," SRE-Discussion Papers 2010/02, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    19. Maura McAdam & Rodney McAdam & Adele Dunn & Clare McCall, 2016. "Regional Horizontal Networks within the SME Agri-Food Sector: An Innovation and Social Network Perspective," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(8), pages 1316-1329, August.
    20. Andrea Venturelli & Fabio Caputo & Simone Pizzi, 2018. "L?impatto del contratto di rete nei processi di internazionalizzazione: alcune evidenze empiriche sulle PMI italiane," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(2), pages 61-83.
    21. Juan García-Álvarez de Perea & Carolina Ramírez-García & Aida Del Cubo-Molina, 2019. "Internationalization Business Models and Patterns of SMEs and MNEs: A Qualitative Multi-Case Study in the Agrifood Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-26, May.

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