Footwear districts in crisis: causes of the decline and strategies of revival

Journal title ECONOMIA E SOCIETÀ REGIONALE
Author/s Mauro Capestro, Elisabetta Tarantino, Fabrizio Morgangni, Eleonora Tricarico, Gianluigi Guido
Publishing Year 2014 Issue 2014/1
Language Italian Pages 26 P. 187-212 File size 787 KB
DOI 10.3280/ES2014-001015
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The main objective of this study was to carry out an analysis on the factors inside industrial districts that have increased the crisis linked to market globalization and that have brought, in some cases, the same districts almost to dissolution. To reach this research objective it was carried out an exploratory study on the footwear district of Casarano using in-depth interviews, administered to a sample of different district actors and followed by a protocol assessment with the method of content analysis. Results revealed an organizational context with strong relational and collaborative limits, as well as consistent lacks in the training and education areas. This study lays the grounds for developing a strategic policy for the introduction of the so-called Knowledge Intensive Business Services (Kibs) agencies, able to improve the relationships among district actors, through the provision of innovative services, in order to promote the district revitalization. The limits of this study are mainly related to the particular characteristics of qualitative research, since results come from an inductive- interpretive process.

Keywords: Industrial Districts, Crisis, Globalization, Kibs

Jel codes: R100, O320, 0250

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Mauro Capestro, Elisabetta Tarantino, Fabrizio Morgangni, Eleonora Tricarico, Gianluigi Guido, Distretti calzaturieri in crisi: cause del declino e strategie di rinnovamento in "ECONOMIA E SOCIETÀ REGIONALE " 1/2014, pp 187-212, DOI: 10.3280/ES2014-001015