Innovative regional milieux,small firms,and regional development: Evidence from Mediterranean France

The purpose of this article is to critically examine key factors that have been involved in the remarkable economic turnaround of Mediterranean France, which until recently was always considered to be a peripheral zone within the national economy. Particular attention is given to the role of noneconomic factors that condition the location choices of households and firms and to the roles of technological innovation, service activities, and small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in the regional development process. With increasing vertical disintegration, Mediterranean France has been realizing external economies from the expansion of the entire system of production. SMEs, which are especially prevalent in this region — and which have behavior patterns that follow a logic that is more spatial than sectoral in nature — have contributed significantly to endogenous regional development through their growth as an ensemble. The new regional organizational paradigm transcends older forms of industrialization.     

The role of advertising in marketing civil/structural engineering consultancy firms

This paper examines the results of an investigation into the role of advertising in civil/structural consulting engineering service firms in the UK. A questionnaire survey of clients and engineering consultants was undertaken to ascertain the current advertising practices and preferences in the methods and media used. From the survey, the results show that clients and consultants agree on the use of advertising consultants and media to achieve enhanced communication with clients. However, more advertising should be directed towards architects because the majority of clients approach architects first when launching a construction project. The results demonstrate that advertising is necessary, but is not a major factor in the selection mechanism of consulting firms by clients; further market research must be carried out to measure advertising effectiveness.     

The effects of scientific regional opportunities in science-technology flows: Evidence from scientific literature in firms patent data

Relevant scientific literature has demonstrated that in spaces of smaller scale than the national, the availability of scientific knowledge is also relevant for generating spillover effects that benefit the industrial sector. The proliferation of such literature consistently stressing the importance of physical proximity for the two-way flow of knowledge and for the development and fostering of innovation, together with the high degree of self-government of the Spanish regions (which have the competence to develop their own R&D policies), all suggest that the relationships between the scientific community and the industrial sector may be closer and more productive in the regions where the scientific potential is more relevant, in comparison with other regions. The basic objective of this article is to test for the possible differential effects of a favourable scientific environment on science-technology relationships, and more specifically, to determine if the considerable regional resources directed towards scientific research in local universities are being translated into economic results for industry, by way of better utilisation of scientific knowledge to enable companies to generate more and better innovations in processes and products. The methodology that we employ relates the scientific citations in patent documents - as a basic indicator of these science-technology flows- with various indicators of resources and results of academic research that reflect the scientific research environment. With caution, and recognising the limitations inherent in the NPC (non patent citation) methodology, different econometric specifications permit the conclusion to be drawn that companies of those regions with a more favourable scientific environment make greater use of scientific knowledge. Received: September 2003/Accepted: October 2004 The authors are members of Eco-21 Research Project. Centra Foundation (Junta de Andalucía). We are grateful for the useful comments on an earlier draft of this paper that were provided by three anonymous referees. This research has been granted by the Ministry of Science and Technology (SEC 2001–3030).     

小城镇在区域交通系统中的功能和定位

对小城镇性质和规模的确定方法进行讨论，针对小城镇自身的具体特点和比较优势来明确小城镇的自身定位，突出特色，根据小城镇在区域中所处的交通位置及在城镇体系中的重要度，正确对其定位，使其自身与在城镇群中的定位互动起来。     

The locations of firms on intersecting roadways

With Bertrand-Nash mill-price competition, travel costs proportional to distance squared, and three firms on an interval, the equilibrium locations of the peripheral firms are further from the center than is socially optimal. If there is a central intersection, with four (or more) finite roadway segments radiating outward from the center (a small city spread along two intersecting roadways), and with one firm at the center and one on each radial segment, then the equilibrium locations of the peripheral firms are closer to the center than is socially optimal. Extensions include competition with spatial price discrimination, a more complicated system of intersecting roadways, and more than one firm on each roadway segment.     

The spatial distribution of new technology-based firms: Empirical results for West-Germany

The focus of the article is to shed some more light on the spatial distribution of new technology-based firms (NTBF) and to discuss location factors which may contribute to the explanation of the variation in the incidence of NTBF between the West-German districts (“Kreise”). Based on theoretical models explaining the location decisions of new firms, hypotheses are derived and tested in an empirical model. The regression results indicate strong correlations between the occurrence of NTBF and the proximity to Research and Development (R&D) facilities comprising universities, technical colleges and non-university institutes as well as private R&D. As expected, the impact of the various facilities varies with respect to their field of specialization, showing major positive correlations with respect to technical disciplines. Moreover, the estimates reveal out differences due to spatial characteristics such as infrastructure and other structural factors. Received: 26 April 1999 / Accepted: 28 November 1999     

在区域经济发展框架中规划小城镇

任何一个城镇的形成和发展都不能孤立于其区域之外,需要有区域社会经济发展的支撑,小城镇也不例外。一方面,小城镇处于由农村形态向城市形态转化的阶段,其建设和发展过程以聚集为基本特征,难以离开区域社会经济发展这个基础。另一方面,小城镇一般是其周围农村地区的政治经济和文化中心,随着小城镇的逐步发     

The scientific basis for explanation in regional analysis

Conclusion This paper has argued that by recourse to the logical structure of scientific explanation an evaluation of existing theoretical structures can lead to an increased awareness of the difficulties that must be confronted in attempts to improve our understanding of regional activity. The comparison of alternative theoretical structures and our ability to choose among them rest no less on these factors than on others that have received more recognition. Only a few of the most widely known types of models have been examined, and of these only one or two aspects have been addressed. Recognition of the value of this sort of criticism should expose fertile areas of research. It should also serve to encourage caution in our attempts to deal with social problems, as the possibility of attributing explanatory power to theoretical structures cannot be taken lightly.Methodological discourse tends to suffer from the animus inherent in the assumption that WhatI know is correct and relevant, but whatyou know is wrong and irrelevant, unless I know it too. Let me admit in advance, therefore, that what I know is weighted down with excess baggage, and that you may know many things which I should have learned.     

Motives for acquisitions among engineering consulting firms

Many empirical studies across various industry sectors show a high failure rate of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), suggesting that this instrument of corporate development is rather risky. Since engineering consulting firms usually have a low tangible asset base as well as good educated and highly mobile professionals, carrying out an M&A transaction in this particular service sector creates an even higher risk. It is evident from the relevant construction and engineering literature that a large number of engineering consulting firms engage in M&A for their corporate development. Owing to the uniqueness of that service sector combined with the high failure rate of M&A, a survey among the top 100 engineering consulting firms in Europe was conducted to investigate the motives behind M&A transactions. Findings suggest that diversification into new service/client markets as well as the penetration into new geographic markets were the most important motives. Further, increasing the firm's market share and the acceleration of growth were the next most popularly rated motives, while tax reasons or spending the firm's excess cash were both seen as relatively unimportant motives. The results show that - compared to other industry sectors - engineering consulting firms had some very different motives or another emphasis was placed on those motives when conducting an M&A transaction. Results also show that some motives were just as important for engineering consulting firms as for firms of other industry sectors, for example the increase of market share or the acceleration of firm growth.     

The role of universities in regional development Endogenous human capital and growth in a two-region model

This paper proposes a dynamic two-region model with human capital accumulation. This economic system is assumed to produce two commodities – one in each region. The only university in the economy which carries out higher education (=teaching) is located in region 1. The model describes the dynamic interdependence between human capital accumulation, regional division of labour, the spatial price structure under perfect economic competition, and the government intervention in higher education. Thus the analysis examines how differences in human capital improvements and environmental conditions between the two regions affect the economic geography. Received: October 1998/Accepted: April 2000     

如何发挥建设单位在安全生产管理中的作用

在国家基础建设过程中,工程质量、进度、成本控制三大目标的实现是建立在安全生产的基础之上的,脱离了安全生产特别是防火、防触电、防高空坠落、防土方坍塌等安全措施的保障,就不能充分保证三大目标的实现。一般情况下,施工安全生产管理工作由承建商负责,建设单位不必直接参与安全生产管理工作,但在实际管理中,一旦建设单位积极参与建设工程安全生产管理工作,必将对进一步促进工程质量、进度、成本三大控制目标的实现产生重要的推动作用。下面,我就建设单位如何做好建设工程安全生产管理工作谈一下个人看法。1在招标文件中规定统一的安全生…     

谈小型支线机场给水泵站的设计

以霍林郭勒机场给水泵站的设计为例,对小型支线机场给水系统的设计进行了全面介绍,对一些常见设计问题进行了分析,并给出了建议,以供设计参考,保证机场正常建设。     

区域发展战略演变与小城镇发展

一、问题的提出小城镇研究是改革开放以来我国城市化及区域发展中的一个热点问题,但同时又是一个颇具争议的问题。尤其是在目前我国乡镇工业暂时遭遇困难的大环境下,有学者甚至认为小城镇重点论是一个政治乌托邦。为什么小城镇问题研究中存在着如此巨大的争议?小城镇发展的理论基础是什么?本文试图从区域发展战略的角度对这些问题进行探索。二、区域发展理论与城镇发展战略1、区域发展与城镇的关系区域是一个具有一定范围的地理单元,又可以是相对完整的经济单元和由特定政府实施有效管理的行政单元,同时也可以是具有人类某种相同社会特征(语…