Production networks in local labour market areas

The aim of the paper is to describe the structure, the dimension and the features of the net designed on the territory by the relationships between the headquarters and the local units of multi-location enterprises in Italy. Network analysis has been applied to spot these relationships, considering, as nodes, the different territorial locations (at the labour local market areas detail) of the headquarters and of the local units and, as ties, the number of workers in local units employed by the multi-location enterprise. In this way, each tie reveals the existence (and the intensity) of a productive relationship between two different territories. The results of the study clearly show that in Italy the system of multi-location enterprises is shaped as a "small world" (Milgram, 1967; Watts and Strogatz, 1998), and also as a scale-free network with a limited number of hubs (Barabási e Albert 1999). The analysis underlines that the interactions among enterprises and among territories is a key factor for development and innovation. On the other hand, hubs make the network vulnerable to non-random shocks

Essential Oils: Market and Legislation

This chapter provides an overview of the market for essential oils and describes its fundamental regulation in the European Union (EU). Both processes and trends in essential oils production, trade, and consumption are analysed. Growth of the market stems from consumer interest in ‘naturals’ associated with health. The market is also attractive to subsistence farmers of developing countries as the raw materials (plants and plant parts), for essential olis are generally obtained from small farms. In the EU, product categories operate under specific regulations to enhance product quality and to maintain market homogeneity and consumer protection. This chapter focuses on EU legislation of general interest to the essential oils industry and regulations inherent to flavourings for food, cosmetics, and additives for animal nutrition