This thesis examines the foundations of successful modern economic development in the European region of N.E Italy. The research explores the importance and role of a combination of urban and transport infrastructure, economic, social and institutional arrangements. These have been conducive for the development of a competitive entrepreneurled endogenous development model which has enabled N.E Italy to become one of the most successful, fastest growing exportoriented economies of the European Union in the 1990s. The approach adopted is interdisciplinary and examines theoretically and empirically a wide range of interrelated economic development issues across different spheres of the social sciences. These include infrastructure; entrepreneurship; culture; cooperation and competition; networking and information diffusion; E.U support to small and medium size enterprises; as well as regional economic interaction with Central and Eastern Europe. The thesis has a four part structure. Following an introduction and methodological chapter, Part I examines the geography and socio-economic development of N.E Italy ir. the fifty year post-WWII period (1945-1995). From this overview, possible key determinants of the region I s development are r..ighl ighted. These factors, which represent the main boc:;· of t~e research, are specifically examined i~ par~s II and I:I. Part II dedicates two chapters to set~lement / transport infrastructure and entrepreneurship, whilst Part III sr..ifts atten~ion to some external factors which interact witt the internal determinants of development. T, .. ·o chapters focus on European Union business facili ta~ing mechanisms and the opening up of Central and Eastern Europe respectively. They provide a different perspective on central issues of this research and a means of empirically assessing the validity of many assumptions of this thesis. Part IV synthesises and concludes the thesis. The evidence of this research indicates that some of the same factors which promoted and sustained the development trajectory of this successful economy, will, most probably, continue to provide it with comparative advantages in the future.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:243841 |
| Date | January 1996 |
| Creators | Manos, Gaspare Augusto |
| Publisher | London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London) |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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