The Challenges of the European Automotive Industry at the Beginning of the 21st Century. Summary of the main findings of the CoCKEAS project

The paper presents the main conclusions of the CoCKEAS European project (Coordinating Competencies and Knowledge in the European Automobile System). It analyses the main changes in the organisation of the European automotive system, not only in the relationships between carmakers and their first tier suppliers, but also in the relations they have with the other actors (upstream and downstream). It discusses the issues associated to the intangible dimension of this industry (financialisation and services), its new geography, and, finally, its distinctivness compared with is competitors (USA and Japan).: automobile industry, Europe, financialisation, interfirm relationships, Japan, location, modular production, services, system, USA

The link between the diversity of productive models and the variety of capitalisms

Prepared within the framework of the ESEMK project supported by the EU (FP6, Priority 7, CIT-CT-2004-506077 The European Socio-Economic Models of a Knowledge-based society), this paper discusses the linking between the variety of capitalism and the diversity of organisational forms for firms. This linking is illustrated through the case of the car industry. First part presents the works based on the hypothesis of an institutional isomorphism between the macro-level and the organisation. Second part tries to link analytical grids which integrate the diversity of institutional forms at the macro, meso and micro-levels.car industry, institution, institutional isomorphism, organisation of the firm, productive models, sector, variety of capitalism

The changing geography of the European automobile system

Based on the research done by the European thematic network CoCKEAS (FP6), the paper analyses the recent changes in the European automobile geography. It discusses the impacts of the EU enlargement: integration of Central and Eastern European countries and new spatial competition for Southern European countries (Spain, Portugal). The study of the geographic distribution of automobile production within Europe focuses on the dynamic of specialisation of regions through collective learning processes, and the clustering of design and assembly activities (supplier parks).automobile industry, cluster, Europe, location, proximity, spatial division of labour

Between Globalization and Regionalization: What is the Future of the Automobile Industry?

Introduction: If the challenge facing automobile producers in the 1980s was how to change their industrial model, that of the 1990s has been how to reorganize internationally. Of course, internationalization has been one of the industry's characteristics since its inception, and international trade has accounted for a higher proportion of sales than it does today at several periods in the past (Bardou, Chanaron, Fridenson and Laux, 1982). Globalization has neither been achieved nor is it irreversible and unavoidable. Yet the current tendency towards internationalization differs from previous phases, and in particular, it differs from the situation in the 1970s and 1980s analyzed by GERPISA in one of its initial research projects (Gerpisa, 1984). In part, this is due to the global context of deregulation and the emergence of new growth poles, but above all because of its origins. The clash between the industrial models used by companies and between national growth models seen over the last twenty years has destabilized the wage-labour nexus and, in turn, the markets of many mature countries, including countries that have benefited from this confrontation. Companies can no longer rely upon markets that are relatively predictable in terms of the level and type of demand...

The European Socio-Economic Models of a Knowledge-based society. Main findings and conclusions

The paper presents the main results and conclusion of the European project ESEMK (FP6, Priority 7) discussing the variety of capitalism within the European Union (2004-08). In Part 1 is abstracted the methodological framework, articulating the macro levels (diversity of socio-economic models or forms of capitalism), the micro level of firms (productive models) and the meso level (industry or sector). Part 2 analyses the main institutional changes occurring in Europe regarding product market regulation, wage-labour relationships and financialisation. Part 3 concludes that the Lisbon process which will not contribute to the emergence of a European model.variety of capitalism; European Union; European model; product market regulation; wage labour nexus; financialisation; sectorial analysis

Spatial distribution of innovative activities and economic performances: A geographical-friendly model

The paper identifies 5 stylized facts to characterize the geographic distribution of innovative activities in France (mainly its high concentration in the region Ile-de-France). It proposes an original model of regional growth in a knowledge-based economy considering the density of RD activities and the connectivity to the other regions. The model is computed and run into 2 different configurations: equidistribution and overconcentration. The simulations’ results lead to the conclusion that the equidistribution configuration is Pareto-efficient (higher growth rate of the national economy, lower income spatial inequalities) compared to the overconcentration. Policy implications are discussed in conclusion.France; Geography of innovation; Knowledge spillover; Regional growth; Simulation

The European Socio-Economic Models of a Knowledge-based society. \r\nMain findings and conclusion \r\n

The paper presents the main results and conclusion of the European project ESEMK (FP6, Priority 7) discussing the variety of capitalism within the European Union (2004-08). In Part 1 is abstracted the methodological framework, articulating the macro levels (diversity of socio-economic models or forms of capitalism), the micro level of firms (productive models) and the meso level (industry or sector). Part 2 analyses the main institutional changes occurring in Europe regarding product market regulation, wage-labour relationships and financialisation. Part 3 concludes that the Lisbon process which will not contribute to the emergence of a European model.variety of capitalism, European Union, European model, product market regulation, wage labour nexus, financialisation, sectorial analysis

Attractiveness and agglomeration of automotive industry in Morocco and Tunisia: A comparative analysis (In French)

The paper proposes a comparative analysis of the development of the automotive industry in Morocco and Tunisia. In its first part, it analyses the convergence in the forms of international integration, oriented towards a subcontracting towards European Union, which leads to competition and also complementarities between these two countries. The role of multinational firms and governmental policies is discussed. Location of these automotive activities is analyzed in Part 2 to evaluate the agglomeration factors and the limits of spatial concentration.Automotive industry - European Union - Regional integration - Mediterranean Area - Multinational Firms - Morocco - Tunisia

Regional configurations of innovative dynamics and socio-economic performances of French regions (In French)

The paper attempts to characterize the configurations of innovation dynamics within the French regions, using the methodological approach in terms of social systems of innovation and production developed by Amable, Barré and Boyer. The statistical analysis of a broad whole of data makes it possible to highlight the various regional profiles in the Science-Technology-Industry interactions, in training and education, and in economic and social performances during the 90s. The analysis underlines the close link between these regional performances and their scientific and technological competences, as well as the advantages of industrial, scientific and technological diversification / of specialization on dynamic sectors.France, innovation, regional growth, regional system of innovation

The fuzzy outline of the Mediterranean automotive space (In French)

The paper analyses the evolution of the automotive industry in the Mediterranean area during the last years. First part focuses on the impacts for this region of the geographical changes of the European automotive systems associated to location of multinational automotive firms in CEEC. This leads to difficulties for the automobile countries of the western part of the Mediterranean Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal) on one side, and to a huge growth of the auto industry at the east, in Turkey, on the other. Part 2 studies the changes in North African countries before to discuss the hypothesis of an emerging Mediterranean automotive space.: Automotive industry - CEEC - European Union - Regional integration - Mediterranean Area - Multinational Firms - Internationalisation - Maghrebi - North Africa - Turkey