This book examines how transnational corporations, small to medium enterprises and governments have emerged as the principal players in industrial development. This valuable work examines this trend, with particular reference to the role of the tax policy in technology development, the financing of technology-sector SMEs, the role of government policy and the relationship between competition and co-operation.

Bringing together an international and multidisciplinary group of experts, this is the first comprehensive volume to analyze conglomerates and economic groups in developing countries and transition economies. Using sixteen in-depth case studies it provides a comparative framework for the study of contemporary process of privatization, economic and financial liberalization and neoliberal globalization. Exploring the various causes and economic, social and political effects of the rise of ‘big business’ in Asia, Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe, the main issues that are examined include: the nature of contemporary economic concentration the relations between ‘local’ and ‘external’ investors the impact on development, and on economic and political control over its direction the new role of the state towards conglomerates and economics groups the effects of economic and political changes on the legitimacy of the state and large companies. This volume is perfect as either a textbook or supplementary reading for students at all levels, as well as researchers and governmental and non-governmental professionals working and studying in the fields of international business and economic development.

This book combines a theoretical study of Japan's economic structures and multinational enterprises with a post-modern analysis of the contemporary multinational enterprise. The author considers the appropriateness of the post-modern approach for discussing economic activities, in particular the New Economy, and also Japanese society and culture. Kensy analyses Japan's economic structure, interpreting its methods, strategies and results in a post-modern context and presents a survey of socio-economic development in Japan since the beginning of westernization. He goes on to discuss Japanese models for the transformation of society in the future, with particular reference to the Keiretzu. Finding Japan to be a truly postmodern society, Kensy shows that Japan is prepared to be a leader in the New Economy. Kensy takes an innovative and stimulating approach that will be of interest to those seeking to better understand the development and future of the economic structures of Japan.

This book traces the theoretical explanation for clusters back to the work of classical economists and their more modern disciples, who saw economic development as a process involving serious imbalances in the exploitation of resources. Initially, natural resource endowments explained the formation of nineteenth and early twentieth-century industrial districts. Today, geographical concentrations of scientific and creative knowledge are the key resource. But these require a support system, ranging from major injections of basic research funding, to varieties of financial investment and management, tothe provision of specialist incubators, for economic value to be realised. These are also specialised forms of knowledge that contribute to a serious imbalance in the distribution of economic opportunity.

This book looks at the question of how firms attain a sustainable competitive advantage in a global environment characterised by above average levels of geographic scope, marketing convergence and cross-national interdepencies.

It is now widely recognized that many of the central unresolved problems in economic policy, management and research turn on questions of knowledge. Increasingly, complex firms and agencies must ask, and answer, such difficult questions as: What is knowledge? Where is it? Who has it? Does the organization lose or gain competitive advantage or effectiveness by sharing knowledge? Where can we find the knowledge we need? How can we measure knowledge? In a knowledge-based economy, these queries are integral to the pursuits of every policy maker, analyst and strategist. Knowledge Management in The Innovation Process - a joint project between Statistics Canada and Program of Research on Innovation Management and Economy (PRIME) at the University of Ottawa - brings together economic, social, measurement and policy views on these critical issues. This project fits into an ongoing research program at Statistics Canada to develop meaningful indicators for science, technology and innovation in a technology-intensive economy. It also fits into the ongoing program at PRIME to better understand technology policy and innovation strategy. This book tells the story of the dynamic interplay between knowledge and innovation with an eye to developing tools and frameworks for managing knowledge for social and economic benefit.

This book, together with Macro-control and Economic Development in China is a collection of papers written in recent years about maintaining economic growth, managing inflation, the relationship between growth and structural adjustment, control of price growth, maintaining stable economic development, and other relevant aspects of macro-control, economic development, and deepening reform. Chinese government adopts many of the recommendations put forward by the book.