The Economic Performance of Innovative Small Firms in the South East Region and Elsewhere in the UK

THWAITES A. and WYNARCZYK P. (1996) The economic performance of innovative small firms in the South East region and elsewhere in the UK, Reg. Studies 30, 135-149. The paper explores the contribution of innovative small firms to local economic performance in different regional environments in the UK. The empirical analysis is based on a sample of small independent firms listed on the SPRU Innovation Database 1975-83. It uses detailed financial and other data on each firm to examine their performance in different operational environments. The results suggest that the average innovative SME exhibits many of the characteristics of a fast growth firm. However, the modus operandi of enterprise appears to differ between firms located in the South East region and other parts of the UK and these differences lead to variable outcomes in terms of employment, asset and export growth. THWAITES A. et WYNARCZYK P. (1996) La performance economique des petites entreprises innovatrices situees dans la region 'Sud-est' et dans d'autres regions au Royaume-Uni, Reg. Studies 30, 135-149. Cet article etudie le role que joue les petites entreprises innovatrices situees dans diverses regions du Royaume-Uni dans la performance economique locale. L'analyse empirique repose sur un echantillon de petites entreprises independantes qui figurent dans la base de donnees de SPRU relative a l'innovation et qui traite de la periode de 1975 a 1983. L'analyse emploie entre autres des donnees financieres detaillees a propos de chaque entreprise, ce qui permet d'examiner sa performance dans divers environnements d'exploitation. Les resultats semblent indiquer que la PME innovatrice type manifeste beaucoup des caracteristiques d'une entreprise champignon. Toujours est-il que la maniere de proceder de l'entreprise semble varier entre la region 'Sud-est' et d'autres regions du Royaume-Uni, et ces differences entrainent des resultats variables en termes de la croissance de l'emploi, de l'actif et des exportations. THWAITES A. und WYNARCZYK P. (1996) Die Wirtschaftsleistung innovativer Kleinbetriebe im Sudosten im Vergleich mit der anderer Regionen des Vereingten Konigreichs, Reg. Studies 30, 135-149. Dieser Aufsatz untersucht den Beitrag innovativer Kleinfirmen zu der wirtschaflichen Leistung von Orten mit unterschiedlichen regionalen Bedingungen im Vereinigten Konigreich. Die empirische Analyse stutzt sich auf eine Stichprobe selbstandiger kleiner Betriebe, die in der Liste der SPRU Datenbank von Innovationen im Zeitraum 1975-1983 aufgefuhrt sind. Dabei werden ins Einzelne gehende finanzielle und andere Angaben uber jede Firma dazu benutzt, ihre Leistungen unter unterschiedlichen Arbeitsbedingungen zu untersuchen. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass durchschnittliche innovative SME (kleine und mittlere Unternehmen) viele Merkmale einer schnell expandierenden Firma aufweisen. Dir Arbeitsweise der Unternehmen im Sudosten scheint jedoch von der in anderen Teilen des Vereinigten Konigreichs abzuweichen, und diese Unterschiede fuhren zu unterschiedlichen Ergebnissen bezuglich Erwerbstatigkeit, Vermogenswerten und Zunahme des Exportvolumens.Innovation, Technologie, SME (Kleine und mittlere Unternehmen), Leistung, Kultur, Regionen,

Current challenges in the management of sepsis in ICUs in resource-poor settings and suggestions for the future

Background: Sepsis is a major reason for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, also in resource-poor settings. ICUs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face many challenges that could affect patient outcome. Aim: To describe differences between resource-poor and resource-rich settings regarding the epidemiology, pathophysiology, economics and research aspects of sepsis. We restricted this manuscript to the ICU setting even knowing that many sepsis patients in LMICs are treated outside an ICU. Findings: Although many bacterial pathogens causing sepsis in LMICs are similar to those in high-income countries, resistance patterns to antimicrobial drugs can be very different; in addition, causes of sepsis in LMICs often include tropical diseases in which direct damaging effects of pathogens and their products can sometimes be more important than the response of the host. There are substantial and persisting differences in ICU capacities around the world; not surprisingly the lowest capacities are found in LMICs, but with important heterogeneity within individual LMICs. Although many aspects of sepsis management developed in rich countries are applicable in LMICs, implementation requires strong consideration of cost implications and the important differences in resources. Conclusions: Addressing both disease-specific and setting-specific factors is important to improve performance of ICUs in LMICs. Although critical care for severe sepsis is likely cost-effective in LMIC setting, more detailed evaluation at both at a macro- and micro-economy level is necessary. Sepsis management in resource-limited settings is a largely unexplored frontier with important opportunities for research, training, and other initiatives for improvement