... Published by Edward Elgar Publishing Limited Glensanda House Montpellier Parade Cheltenham Gl... more ... Published by Edward Elgar Publishing Limited Glensanda House Montpellier Parade Cheltenham GlosGLSOlUA UK Edward Elgar Publishing, Inc. ... This period saw heavy emphasis on R&D in the fields of microelectronics, computing, laser technology, fiberoptic communications ...
art of the “Advances in Chinese Economic Studies” series, this book was produced by two individua... more art of the “Advances in Chinese Economic Studies” series, this book was produced by two individuals affiliated with the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research in Taipei, Taiwan. The clearly organized work comes with a large number of tables, but no figures, including an absence of maps (the authors are obviously economists, rather than geographers). Their observations are both timely and clear-eyed as to systemic opportunities and challenges, citing for example the strength of top-down policy-directing research and development, as well as structural impediments to university-industry technology transfers. As summarized in the highly informative Preface, five chapters organize their presentation. Chapter 1 focuses on the history of China’s post-Mao science and technology sector, particularly the use of tax policy to attract foreign investment. Given the size of China’s population, the anti-intellectual excesses preceding Deng’s rise to power, and the challenges of implementing technology-based modernization in general, the story of China’s determined and (thus far) successful advance provides a model worth studying. The authors’ approach largely lists policy proclamations and numerical signs of advances along those lines. The second chapter traces the process of research and development infusions in China’s hightechnology industries, a popular topic for geographers as well. A strength and a weakness of this chapter lies in its reliance on figures from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), which has an interest in demonstrating that government policy is achieving successes. It remains unclear whether the authors actually visited any of these locations to ground-truth results, or conducted interviews to check for deeper insights rather than relying on government statistics. Chapter 3 looks at the regional unevenness of high-technology research and companies throughout China. Dividing their examination by three stages of industrial development (advanced/established, in development, and still undergoing research) usefully underlines the nascent state of these sectors. The fourth chapter focuses on the highly significant part played by multinational corporations in China’s high-technology development—particularly the role of Greater China (including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan). The fifth and final chapter provides a performance analysis of China’s domestic hightechnology market—the most interesting and under-researched aspect of the entire examination. Despite the often-lamented shortage of venture capital, the authors see a private investment structure developing, although lagging in performance at present. Their analysis of what drives regional investment, creating leaders and laggards, is right on.
The furniture industry has played an important role in the history of the United States as a bell... more The furniture industry has played an important role in the history of the United States as a bellwether for manufacturing. This sector continues to be a major manufacturing employer in the US and around the world through its utilization of a global production network. Types of furniture range from household (indoor and outdoor) to institutional, with particular growth in firms supplying medical and government-related commodities. The industry is highly responsive to economic and fashion trends, but is partitioned into high, medium and low cost segments that reveal different location-al and market responses to changes in these factors. Recent developments indicate that the post-1980\u27s migration of furniture manufacturing to offshore, low labor cost countries has stabilized and shows signs of re-shoring in the US for high end customized technologically intensive products utilizing the remaining embedded skilled labor and locally clustered industry components. Businesses that survived the recessionary \u27creative destruction\u27 largely adopted lean manufacturing processes and took advantage of newly available, lower cost equipment and buildings to upgrade their production practices, absorbing market from former competitors. New partnerships will be traced with branches and headquarter relocations in Asia, along with cooperative supplier relationships with former U.S. and new foreign companies. Industry survivors adopted practices that could be highly instructive for other manufacturers challenged by globalization to grow stronger by increasing their adaptive capacity. Concepts illustrated in the furniture industry would be useful to a number of audiences in academic, industry and public policy markets. The proposed book provides an overview of the industry and its global production network including a brief overview of the manufacturing technologies of each sector. Assessment of new competitors in Asia and South America will illustrate opportunities and challenges in these locations. The book culminates by considering challenges, opportunities, and the future outlook of the industry in regional clusters
... Published by Edward Elgar Publishing Limited Glensanda House Montpellier Parade Cheltenham Gl... more ... Published by Edward Elgar Publishing Limited Glensanda House Montpellier Parade Cheltenham GlosGLSOlUA UK Edward Elgar Publishing, Inc. ... This period saw heavy emphasis on R&D in the fields of microelectronics, computing, laser technology, fiberoptic communications ...
art of the “Advances in Chinese Economic Studies” series, this book was produced by two individua... more art of the “Advances in Chinese Economic Studies” series, this book was produced by two individuals affiliated with the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research in Taipei, Taiwan. The clearly organized work comes with a large number of tables, but no figures, including an absence of maps (the authors are obviously economists, rather than geographers). Their observations are both timely and clear-eyed as to systemic opportunities and challenges, citing for example the strength of top-down policy-directing research and development, as well as structural impediments to university-industry technology transfers. As summarized in the highly informative Preface, five chapters organize their presentation. Chapter 1 focuses on the history of China’s post-Mao science and technology sector, particularly the use of tax policy to attract foreign investment. Given the size of China’s population, the anti-intellectual excesses preceding Deng’s rise to power, and the challenges of implementing technology-based modernization in general, the story of China’s determined and (thus far) successful advance provides a model worth studying. The authors’ approach largely lists policy proclamations and numerical signs of advances along those lines. The second chapter traces the process of research and development infusions in China’s hightechnology industries, a popular topic for geographers as well. A strength and a weakness of this chapter lies in its reliance on figures from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), which has an interest in demonstrating that government policy is achieving successes. It remains unclear whether the authors actually visited any of these locations to ground-truth results, or conducted interviews to check for deeper insights rather than relying on government statistics. Chapter 3 looks at the regional unevenness of high-technology research and companies throughout China. Dividing their examination by three stages of industrial development (advanced/established, in development, and still undergoing research) usefully underlines the nascent state of these sectors. The fourth chapter focuses on the highly significant part played by multinational corporations in China’s high-technology development—particularly the role of Greater China (including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan). The fifth and final chapter provides a performance analysis of China’s domestic hightechnology market—the most interesting and under-researched aspect of the entire examination. Despite the often-lamented shortage of venture capital, the authors see a private investment structure developing, although lagging in performance at present. Their analysis of what drives regional investment, creating leaders and laggards, is right on.
The furniture industry has played an important role in the history of the United States as a bell... more The furniture industry has played an important role in the history of the United States as a bellwether for manufacturing. This sector continues to be a major manufacturing employer in the US and around the world through its utilization of a global production network. Types of furniture range from household (indoor and outdoor) to institutional, with particular growth in firms supplying medical and government-related commodities. The industry is highly responsive to economic and fashion trends, but is partitioned into high, medium and low cost segments that reveal different location-al and market responses to changes in these factors. Recent developments indicate that the post-1980\u27s migration of furniture manufacturing to offshore, low labor cost countries has stabilized and shows signs of re-shoring in the US for high end customized technologically intensive products utilizing the remaining embedded skilled labor and locally clustered industry components. Businesses that survived the recessionary \u27creative destruction\u27 largely adopted lean manufacturing processes and took advantage of newly available, lower cost equipment and buildings to upgrade their production practices, absorbing market from former competitors. New partnerships will be traced with branches and headquarter relocations in Asia, along with cooperative supplier relationships with former U.S. and new foreign companies. Industry survivors adopted practices that could be highly instructive for other manufacturers challenged by globalization to grow stronger by increasing their adaptive capacity. Concepts illustrated in the furniture industry would be useful to a number of audiences in academic, industry and public policy markets. The proposed book provides an overview of the industry and its global production network including a brief overview of the manufacturing technologies of each sector. Assessment of new competitors in Asia and South America will illustrate opportunities and challenges in these locations. The book culminates by considering challenges, opportunities, and the future outlook of the industry in regional clusters
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Papers by Susan Walcott