Small Firms and Local Economic Networks: The Death of the Local Economy? [Hardcover]

in seven contrasting localities in the United Kingdom. All the owner-managers and large organization representatives were interviewed face-to-face and background data was collected from numerous other individuals and sources.

The authors' findings have profound implications for theory and policy. They question the applicability of models of the changing economy such as 'industrial districts' idealized in much of the recent literature. The results also have implications for those agencies based on the locality attempting to reach small businesses as well as government policies attempting economic development.The last decade or so has witnessed unprecedented changes in the way private and public sector businesses organize their activities. Changes in their internal organization, 'downsizing', reducing inventories, contracting-out and moves towards 'just-in-time' production have precipitated many new kinds of external connections.

This book examines the relationships between small businesses, large businesses and their local economies. The wide-ranging examination is based on data collected from over 400 businesses

in seven contrasting localities in the United Kingdom. All the owner-managers and large organization representatives were interviewed face-to-face and background data was collected from numerous other individuals and sources.

The results of this research challenge accepted views on close links between small businesses and their local economies and the importance of local economic networks for small businesses. The authors argue that small firm-large firm links are less close than is often assumed and increasingly are ls€