Learning objectives
The Course "economy of industrial districts and business networks" introduces students to the interpretation of the competitive advantage of a nation from a district-based perspective (i.e. meso-economic). At the centre of theoretical thinking lies the problem of the appropriate unit of investigation for the analysis of national competitive advantage and the intervention of industrial policy aimed at improving it.
During the Course, the connection between theoretical thinking and observation of facts will be made with regard to the Italian industrial districts and business networks.
If the concept of industrial district (G. Becattini) explains how "the local external environment of a company affects its competitive success over time" (M.E. Porter), the business networks are the main strategy of national industrial policy (Industry 2015) for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of the Italian economy. This policy is expressed in the network contract, an agreement in which "more entrepreneurs pursue the aim of enhancing, individually and collectively, their innovative capacity and competitiveness on the market"(L. 122/2010).
The Course has three specific objectives: (1) to introduce students to the analysis of the productive organization through the district approach, (2) to help them to become aware of the relationship between business and territories where the different stages of production are localised and (3) to encourage them to reflect critically on the competitive advantages that a business network can make to individual business that belong to it.
At the end of the Course, students will be able: (a) to master the key principles of the district approach, (b) to explain why and how the surrounding environment influences the firm's competitiveness, and (c) to apply the district reasoning to formulate issues regarding the competitive strategy of enterprises, (d) to critically evaluate strengths and weaknesses of business networks as a solution to the problem of increasing the competitive advantage for enterprises and the national economy, (e) to analyse concrete situations to understand the impact of the network contract on the competitive position of businesses.