Agglomeration and Local Innovation Networks in Japanese SMEs: Analysis of the Information Linkage
This lucid and informative book analyzes the problem of clusters in transition through studies of agglomerations at different stages of development in various East Asian countries.
An Empirical Examination of the Flowchart Approach to Industrial Clustering: Case Study of Greater Bangkok, Thailand
Industrial agglomeration, or clustering, is currently a hot topic in economics. There are two reasons for this. The first reason stems from the development of economic theory. There is a growing literature of the “new economic geography” initiated by Krugman (1995), Fujita, Krugman and Venables (1999), and Fujita and Thisse (2002). These new fields have expanded the boundaries of economic theory to new frontiers. The second reason relates to practical applications, such as economic policy. With the development of information and communication technology, commodities, human resources, and funds can move anywhere in the world in a relatively short time; the tides of so-called globalization are shaking all economies, developed and developing. This trend has resulted in the common practice of trying to attract foreign or even domestic resources located in different regions into an economy by stimulating a region’s economic development. In order to invite foreign firms, for instance, policy makers must offer benefits to these firms; in doing so, they must understand the nature of agglomeration. Successful examples of such policies can be found in East Asian economies, one current example of the ongoing “East Asian Miracle.”
Resource Allocation In R&D Departments
AbstractThis paper examines the problem of allocating funds within research and development organizations, where several departments and multiple research areas must be considered. Furthermore, impacts arising from budget shifts must be measured in terms of various factors or criteria that may be qualitative or quantitative. Using a particular research and development organization, Ontario Hydro, as a backdrop, we develop a framework for evaluating budget changes when (a) multiple criteria, (b) multiple opinions, and (c) qualitative factors are involved. A three stage procedure for budget allocation is proposed. In the first stage, management responses regarding the perceived impacts of budget changes are combined to arrive at a consensus. In stage two, the multiple criteria consensus values are used to derive an overall impact rating for each proposed budget shift pertaining to each of a set of research areas. Finally, in stage three an optimal subset of budget shifts is chosen from the set of all possib...