3 Review(s)

The globalisation and liberalisation of markets which have taken place over the past 25 years, combined with developments in information and communication technologies, has led to a considerable shift in economic policy and the spatial organisation of production, resulting in a decentralisation of economic activity, particularly in labour-intensive, price-competitive industries. Drawing from case studies from regions such as the Eastern and South-eastern frontiers of the EU, this book examines the changes in geography of European production.Based on two theoretical approaches: the Global Commodity Chain and the Global Production Network, this book investigates the multitude of processes, as well as diverse consequences of global integration upon industries, regions, enterprises and employees. The book also defines and analysis multiple causes of decentralisation, arguing that it is not simply the pursuit of cheaper and more adaptable labour. In doing so, it demonstrates that the effects of delocalisation within Europe, unlike those in the rest of the developed world, are less negative than usually portrayed.It concludes by putting forward recommendations for best future practice of successful adjustment strategies and examines how these might be adopted elsewhere in the world.