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Subcontracting in Italian Industry: Labour Division, Firm Growth and the North--South Divide

Author

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  • Anna Giunta
  • Annamaria Nifo
  • Domenico Scalera
Abstract
Giunta A., Nifo A. et Scalera D. Subcontracting in Italian industry: labour division, firm growth and the North--South divide, Regional Studies . The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of subcontracting on Italian manufacturing firms' growth in the second half of the 1990s. The main results are: (1) producing as subcontractors does not penalize firms but can be a positive determinant of growth, especially when coupled with the propensity to innovate; (2) since a non-linear relationship between growth and subcontracting emerges, an organizational mode not fully specialized in either subcontracting activity or direct sales may be optimal; and (3) the deep dualism of the Italian industrial structure is confirmed, as Southern subcontractors show poorer performances and slower growth. Giunta A., Nifo A. and Scalera D. 意大利产业中的分包：劳动力分配、公司增长以及南北分异，区域研究。 本文旨在考察上世纪90 年代后期分包对于意大利制造业公司增长的影响。主要的研究结果包括：（1）作为分包商非但没有对公司产生负面影响反而成为增长中的积极决定因素，尤其是当其与创新结合的情况下；（2 ）由于在增长与分包中存在非线性关联，一种既非完全关注于分包活动也非直销的组 织模式得到推崇；（3）研究肯定了意大利产业结构中存在的深层次二元性，表现在南部分包商业绩较差且增长缓慢。 分包 价值链 区位 公司增长 Giunta A., Nifo A. et Scalera D. La sous-traitance dans l'industrie italienne: la division du travail, la croissance des entreprises et le clivage Nord-Sud, Regional Studies . Cet article cherche à examiner l'impact de la sous-traitance sur la croissance des entreprises industrielles italiennes pendant la deuxième moiti� des ann�es 90. Les principaux r�sultats sont les suivants: (1) produire en tant que sous-traitant ne p�nalise pas les entreprises mais peut s'av�rer un d�terminant positif de la croissance, notamment quand on y associe la propensit� à innover; (2) �tant donn� qu'il en ressort un rapport non-lin�aire entre la croissance et la sous-traitance, il se peut qu'un mode organisationnel qui ne se sp�cialise à fond, ni en la sous-traitance, ni en les ventes directes, soit optimal; et (3) le dualisme profond de la structure industrielle italienne se voit confirmer, vu que les sous-traitants du Sud font preuve d'une performance faible et d'un taux de croissance plus lent. Sous-traitance Chaîne des valeurs Emplacement Croissance des entreprises Giunta A., Nifo A. und Scalera D. Untervergabe von Aufträgen in der italienischen Industrie: Arbeitsteilung, Firmenwachstum und das Nord-Süd-Gefälle, Regional Studies . In diesem Beitrag wird untersucht, wie sich die Untervergabe von Aufträgen in der zweiten Hälfte der neunziger Jahre auf das Wachstum von produzierenden Firmen in Italien ausgewirkt hat. Die wichtigsten Ergebnisse sind: (1) eine Produktion als Subunternehmen ist für die Firmen nicht mit Nachteilen verbunden, sondern kann insbesondere in Verbindung mit einer Innovationsneigung einen positiven Determinanten für Wachstum darstellen; (2) da sich eine nicht lineare Beziehung zwischen Wachstum und Untervergabe abzeichnet, könnte sich eine Organisationsform als optimal erweisen, die sich nicht ausschließlich auf Untervergabe bzw. Direktverkäufe spezialisiert; (3) der grundlegende Dualismus der italienischen Industriestruktur wird bestätigt, da südliche Subunternehmen weniger Leistung und langsameres Wachstum aufweisen. Untervergabe von Aufträgen Wertschöpfungskette Standort Firm enwachstum Giunta A., Nifo A. y Scalera D. Subcontratación en la industria italiana: división laboral, crecimiento de las empresas y la división norte-sur, Regional Studies . El objetivo de este art�culo es investigar el efecto de la subcontratación en el crecimiento de las empresas manufactureras italianas en la segunda mitad de los noventa. Los resultados principales son: (1) la producción en la subcontratación no penaliza a las empresas sino que puede ser un determinante positivo del crecimiento, especialmente cuando se combina con la predisposición a la innovación; (2) puesto que surge una relación no lineal entre el crecimiento y la subcontratación, podr�a ser ideal un modo de organización que no est� totalmente especializado en la actividad de subcontratación o en las ventas directas; y (3) se confirma el fuerte dualismo de la estructura industrial italiana, puesto que los subcontratistas del sur demuestran peores resultados y un crecimiento más lento. Subcontratación Cadena de valores Ubicación Crecimiento de empresas

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Giunta & Annamaria Nifo & Domenico Scalera, 2012. "Subcontracting in Italian Industry: Labour Division, Firm Growth and the North--South Divide," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(8), pages 1067-1083, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:46:y:2012:i:8:p:1067-1083
    DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2011.552492
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    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production

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