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PYKE Frank, SENGENBERGER WernerIndustrial districts and local economic regenerationGeneva : International Institute for Labour Studies, 1992, X-294 p.ISBN 92-9014-471-8Résumé :Industrial districts are networks of small and medium-sized firms linked to one another and to local institutions by shared resources and services to form innovative and productive industrial organisations with strong competitive advantages. It has been suggested that industrial districts offer the prospect of a power ful model of endogenous ecnonomic development. While this type of industrial organisations with strong competitive advantages. It has been suggested that industrial districts offer the prospect of a powerful model of endogenous economic development. While this type of industrial organisation is most commonly associated with North Central and North Eastern Italy, there is also evidence of its occurrence in some other countries.Howerver, the claims for the much lauded success sotry of the industrial districts model, the assertions of its widespread occurrence and the stated value for policy makers have not gone undisputed, and this book sets out to consider two basic questions. How do the experiences of the Italian industrial districts compare with those of other countries, namely Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany and Spain ? What are the policy interventions needed in order to sustain existing industrial districts and to guide other regions considering pursuing a similar strategy in the interests of local economic regeneration ?Against this backdrop, the book attempts to provide an in-depth analysis of the organisational principles and policy initiatives that appear to give industrial districts a competitive edge. The authors thereby cover issues such as the importance of various forms of co-operation as a complement to competition ; the key role played by government institutions ; the provision of "real services" (as opposed to financial incentives) as an industrial policy measure ; the need to redefine trade unions relations in accordance with the needs of the industrial districts model ; the positive advantages of flexible specialisation as an industrial strategy ; and the types of states interventions needed to support the development and growth of industrial districts.The papers in this volume were commissioned for an international conference that was organised by the International Institute for Labour Studies in october 1990Axe de recherches : Équipe 2 : Activités économiques, dynamiques sociales, échanges