European integration and the spatial dynamics of manufacturing employment change

This paper examines the dynamics of manufacturing employment change in 13 EU countries between the years 1978 and 1996 mainly through the utilisation of shift-share techniques. Despite the momentum that European integration gained over this period the key finding here is that the geography of manufacturing employment has remained almost intact. Processes operating at European scale appear to have the largest impact on labour outcomes in each member state, while there is little deviation from the widespread declining trends. Spatial stability is reinforced even further through the remarkable homogeneity of national industrial structures. In addition, the modest increase in the industrial specialisation of the participating economies and the moderate localisation tendencies of a few traditional sub-sectors pose little if any threat to the stability of the present map of manufacturing distribution. This evidence suggests that, contrary to some political rhetoric, the integration process has not, at least so far, adversely affected the relative competitiveness of manufacturing in either peripheral or core countries. Key words: Employment change, European integration, industrial specialisation, manufacturing, sectoral dispersion, shift-share.

European integration and the spatial dynamics of manufacturing employment change

This paper examines the dynamics of manufacturing employment change in 13 EU countries between the years 1978 and 1996 mainly through the utilisation of shift-share techniques. Despite the momentum that European integration gained over this period the key finding here is that the geography of manufacturing employment has remained almost intact. Processes operating at European scale appear to have the largest impact on labour outcomes in each member state, while there is little deviation from the widespread declining trends. Spatial stability is reinforced even further through the remarkable homogeneity of national industrial structures. In addition, the modest increase in the industrial specialisation of the participating economies and the moderate localisation tendencies of a few traditional sub-sectors pose little if any threat to the stability of the present map of manufacturing distribution. This evidence suggests that, contrary to some political rhetoric, the integration process has not, at least so far, adversely affected the relative competitiveness of manufacturing in either peripheral or core countries. Key words: Employment change, European integration, industrial specialisation, manufacturing, sectoral dispersion, shift-share

Capital and labour productivity convergence of manufacturing industry in the regions of Greece

Given that spatially uneven industrial growth is a prime topic in economic geography, it is surprising that changing regional productivity is a relatively understudied area. However, there are clear signs that this situation has started to change lately. Recent findings in the field of international economics regarding productivity convergence have led to a proliferation of studies focused on the sources of this phenomenon at the regional scale, with structural change and technological diffusion prominent. This paper explores the process of manufacturing productivity convergence in the regions of Greece. The first issue to be addressed is methodological and concerns the evolution of current thinking about productivity in regional analysis. Why is it the case that more attention seems to have been paid to the input factors of production, especially labour, rather than their productive use? Definitional issues in the measurement of productivity follow next. The main aim of the research is to estimate and understand the evolution of regional manufacturing productivity in Greece during the period 1984-1993. Detailed econometric analysis in this case is precluded by inadequate data, but rather more straightforward comparative analysis of labour and capital productivity clearly points to a significant convergence. A variety of approaches are then employed in an attempt to isolate and account for the forces behind regional productivity dynamics in Greece. Key words: capital productivity, convergence, labour productivity, regional disparities, uneven growth, Greek regions.

Capital and labour productivity convergence of manufacturing industry in the regions of Greece

Given that spatially uneven industrial growth is a prime topic in economic geography, it is surprising that changing regional productivity is a relatively understudied area. However, there are clear signs that this situation has started to change lately. Recent findings in the field of international economics regarding productivity convergence have led to a proliferation of studies focused on the sources of this phenomenon at the regional scale, with structural change and technological diffusion prominent. This paper explores the process of manufacturing productivity convergence in the regions of Greece. The first issue to be addressed is methodological and concerns the evolution of current thinking about productivity in regional analysis. Why is it the case that more attention seems to have been paid to the input factors of production, especially labour, rather than their productive use? Definitional issues in the measurement of productivity follow next. The main aim of the research is to estimate and understand the evolution of regional manufacturing productivity in Greece during the period 1984-1993. Detailed econometric analysis in this case is precluded by inadequate data, but rather more straightforward comparative analysis of labour and capital productivity clearly points to a significant convergence. A variety of approaches are then employed in an attempt to isolate and account for the forces behind regional productivity dynamics in Greece. Key words: capital productivity, convergence, labour productivity, regional disparities, uneven growth, Greek regions

European integration and the spatial dynamics of manufacturing-employment change

The author examines the dynamics of manufacturing-employment change in thirteen European Union countries between 1978 and 1996, mainly through the utilisation of shift-share techniques. Despite the momentum that European integration gained over this period, the key finding is that the geography of manufacturing employment has remained almost intact. Processes operating at the European scale appear to have the largest impact on labour outcomes in each member state, while there is little deviation from the widespread declining trends. Spatial stability is reinforced even further through the homogeneity of several national industrial structures. In addition, the moderate increase in the industrial specialisation of the participating economies, and the localisation tendencies of a few traditional subsectors, pose little if any threat to the stability of the present map of manufacturing distribution. This evidence suggests that, contrary to some political rhetoric, the integration process has not, so far at least, adversely affected the relative competitiveness of manufacturing either in peripheral or in core countries.