Category: Research

New Article: Globalisation, uneven development and the North–South ‘big switch’

Horner, Rory, Seth Schindler, Daniel Haberly, and Yuko Aoyama, 2018.  “De-globalization and its limits.” Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society.

Abstract

An apparent ‘big switch’ in attitudes towards and discourse over economic globalisation has occurred since the turn of the Millennium. Economic globalisation was formerly widely identified as being orchestrated in the interests of the global North. Sceptics, mostly left-leaning, expressed particular concern for its impacts in the global South. However, a recent backlash against globalisation has emerged within the global North from the political right, while some support for globalisation has been expressed within the global South. This ‘big switch’ defies many theoretical predictions, and can be situated in relation to a shifting geography of global uneven development.

https://doi.org/10.1093/cjres/rsx026

New Article: Research and Development Facilities in India

Abstract:

India has emerged as a preferred location for corporate R&D and strategic marketing facilities. Until a decade ago, these functions were conducted almost exclusively near the corporate headquarters of MNEs in the developed world. One reason for the relocation of these functions to India is its changing role as a source of market information.  With the saturation of the markets in the developed world, MNEs are increasingly interested in cultivating the bottom-of-the-pyramid market, which makes India an ideal location to collect market knowledge.  In this paper, we focus on the emerging relationship between markets and MNEs in India. Drawing on interviews with MNEs in Bangalore, we show how the perception of India as a location of innovation has begun to change, and discuss how India has begun to serve as an ideal location for market knowledge gathering activities by MNEs. We argue that their new orientation offers a window of opportunity that has implications for other developing economies, and conclude that India’s unique combination of market assets have played an important role in enabling MNEs to upgrade their functions.

Aoyama, Yuko and Balaji Parthasarathy.  “Research and Development Facilities of Multinational Enterprises in India”, Eurasian Geography and Economics, 53, 6 (2012): 713-730

 

 

“Editorial: Emerging Themes in Economic Geography.” Economic Geography 87 No.2 (April, 2011): 111-126.

“Economic Geography sponsored a workshop to brainstorm collectively the emerging research themes in economic geography. We gathered a small group of midcareer scholars from 19 institutions in 7 countries on April 12–13, 2010, in Washington, D.C., to address what we considered a collective concern: that our discipline could use a significant boost in theoretical and thematic developments at this particular juncture. The workshop was intended to be one of the journal’s many contributions to disciplinary activities and ongoing efforts to keep the discipline vibrant for the next generation. The workshop aimed to achieve multiple goals….” [Read on]

Aoyama, Y., J.T. Murphy, and S. Hanson (2010). Key Concepts in Economic Geography. Sage Publications.

From the Back Cover:

“This book provides a comprehensive and highly readable review of the conceptual underpinnings of economic geography.  Students and professional scholars alike will find it extremely useful both as a reference manual and as an authoritative guide to the numerous theoretical debates that characterize the field.”  Professor Allen J. Scott, Department of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, USA

“This book guides readers skillfully through the rapidly changing field of economic geography.  It is a highly readable synthesis of contemporary debates within economic geography that is also sensitive to the history of the sub-discipline.”  Dr. Sara Hall, School of Geography, University of Nottingham.

Key Concepts in Economic Geography is a new kind of textbook that forms part of an innovative set of companion texts for the Human Geography sub-disciplines.  Organized around 20 short essays, Key Concepts in Economic Geography provides a cutting edge introduction to the central concepts that define contemporary research in Economic Geography.  The book includes:

– An introductory chapter providing a succinct overview of the recent developments in the field.  Read the Introductory chapter,  “What is Economic Geography?”

– Over 20 key concept entries with comprehensive explanations, definitions, and evolutions of the subject

– Extensive pedagogic features that enhance understanding including key points, further reading and section introductions.

An ideal companion text for upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate students in Economic Geography, the book presents the key concepts in the discipline, demonstrating their historical roots and contemporary applications to fully understand the processes of economic change, regional growth and decline, globalization, and the changing locations of firms and industries.  Written by an international recognized set of authors, the book is an essential addition to any geography student’s library.

Yuko Aoyama, James T. Murphy, and Susan Hanson are all based at Clark University, USA

Independent Reviews provided as comments to the Sage Publications website:

“The nice thing about this text is that it is concise but with depth in its coverage. A must have for any library, and a useful desk reference for any serious student of economic geography or political economy.” – Dr Adam Dixon, School of Geographical Sciences, Bristol University.

“Book presents in a concise way an efficient explanation of a range of core concepts in economic geography. Individual chapters are very useful for undergraduate students to obtain a better grasp of these concepts. A number of these are discussed in tutorials and students are recommended to include chapters from this book as supplemental reading for these tutorials.” – Dr L. Van Grunsven, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University.

“This book provides an excellent introduction into the spatial dimensions of the economy as well as the economic dimensions of space. I have recommended it to students with special interest in the geographical aspects of economic history.” -Professor Ernst Langthaler, Department for Economic and Social History, University of Vienna.

 

Limits to FDI-driven growth in Ireland: A newspaper content analysis for investment, upgrading and divestment

Horner, Rory and Yuko Aoyama.  2009.  “Limits to FDI-driven growth in Ireland: A newspaper content analysis for investment, upgrading and divestment.” In P. Kirby and P. Carmody (eds.), The Legacy of Ireland’s Economic Expansion: Geographies of the Celtic Tiger.   Taylor & Francis, pp.140-160.

“Artists, Tourists, and the State” International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 33, 1 (March 2009): 80-104

Abstract

In this article, I seek to demonstrate how research on cultural industries and tourism combined yields insights into the contemporary dynamics of cultural survival in the age of globalization. Tourism is increasingly an important economic force that facilitates cultural mobility and promotes cultural consumption, and in turn contributes to the growth of a regionally embedded cultural industry. I take the example of flamenco music and dance in southern Spain and focus on three agents that help shape this art complex — the cultural industry, the tourists and the state. I analyze how these agents interact, and show how their engagements at multiple geographic scales result in a distinctive and successful cultural tourism in Seville, Andalusia. The flamenco art complex survives and thrives today through the combination of resilient local talent closely linked to identity maintenance, domestic and foreign tourists that engage in cultural consumption, and the government subsidizing the artists through state‐sponsored spectacles.

 

Aoyama, Yuko.  2009.  “Artists, Tourists, and the State: Cultural Tourism and the Flamenco Industry in Andalusia, Spain.”  International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 33 No. 1 (March): 80-104.

“Industry Evolution and Cross-Sectoral Skill Transfers: A Comparative Analysis of the Video Game Industry in Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom

Izushi, Hiro and Yuko Aoyama.  2006.  “Industry Evolution and Cross-Sectoral Skill Transfers: A Comparative Analysis of the Video Game Industry in Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom.” Environment and Planning A 38 No.10 (October): 1843-1861.

Cities in the Telecommunications Age: The Fracturing of Geographies

Wheeler, James O., Yuko Aoyama and Barney Warf, eds., 2000.  Cities in the Telecommunications Age: The Fracturing of Geographies. New York: Routledge.

“By any measure, Cities in the Telecommunications Age is a landmark contribution to urban studies. This outstanding collection by cutting-edge researchers offers the most comprehensive and sophisticated interpretation to date of the economic and social transformations that are reshaping urban spatial organization.” — Peter O. Muller, Professor of Geography, University of Miami

“These essays, authored by a group of prominent senior scholars and promising young researchers, are both insightful and stimulating. I expect this timely book to become an important reference for students and researchers in geography and in city and regional planning.” — Qing Shen, Associate Professor, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

“Cities in the Telecommunications Age presents a very wide-ranging and balanced scope on cities and telecommunications. Refreshingly, it includes empirical studies on various related aspects. The book is a must for scholars focusing on cities in pertinent disciplines, as well as students of telecommunications in the social sciences.” — Aharon Kellerman, Professor and Vice-President, University of Haifa

“Cities in the Telecommunications Age is a timely and important contribution to our understanding of a revolution with yet uncertain destinations. Experiences of cities in the United States and the United Kingdom and research findings in these countries offer informed comparisons and guideposts to human futures at the dawn of a new century.” — Donald G. Janelle, Professor Emeritus, Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario

Paths Towards the Informational Society: Employment Structure in G-7 Countries. 1920-1990.

Castells, Manuel and Yuko Aoyama, 1998.  “Paths Towards the Informational Society: Employment Structure in G-7 Countries. 1920-1990.” Reprinted. Chapter in J. R. Bryson and P.W. Daniels (eds.). Service Industries in the Global Economy. The International Library of Critical Writings in Economics, an Elgar Reference Collection.  Cheltenham, Glos.: Edward Elgar, Vol. 1, pp. 525-553.

Institutional Environment for Business Start-ups: Small Business Policy and Venture Capital in the United States

Aoyama, Yuko, 1997.  “Institutional Environment for Business Start-ups: Small Business Policy and Venture Capital in the United States.”  In Moglichkeiten zur Verbesserung des wirtschafts- und gesellschaftspolitischen Umfeldes fur Existenzgrunder und kleine und mittlere Unternehmen – Wege zu einer neuen Kultur de Selbstandigkeit. Max Planck Institute and Rheinisch Westfaelishcen Institute for Economic Research, Germany, pp.53-87.

Paths Towards the Informational Society: Employment Structure in G-7 Countries. 1920-1990

Castells, Manuel and Yuko Aoyama, 1997.  “Paths Towards the Informational Society: Employment Structure in G-7 Countries. 1920-1990.”  Reprinted (with Manuel Castells).  Chapter in Van den Berg, Axel and Joseph Smucker (eds.). The Sociology of Labour Markets: Efficiency, Equity, Security. Scarborough, Ontario, Prentice Hall, pp.14-39.

Paths Towards the Informational Society: A Comparative Analysis of the Transformation of Employment Structure in the G-7 Countries, 1920-2005

Castells, Manuel and Yuko Aoyama, 1993.  Paths Towards the Informational Society: A Comparative Analysis of the Transformation of Employment Structure in the G-7 Countries, 1920-2005.  (with Manuel Castells). Working Paper No. 61,Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy,University of California,Berkeley, March.

Analisis de Distinas Experiencias Europeas de Reindustrializacion y Reactivacion de Regiones de Cuencas Mineras Ligadas a la Industria Siderometalurgica asi como Formulacion de Recomenadaciones de Estrategias de desarrollo y de Inversion

Cohen, Stephen, Yuko Aoyama, Lisa Bornstein and Brian Muller, 1992.  Analisis de Distinas Experiencias Europeas de Reindustrializacion y Reactivacion de Regiones de Cuencas Mineras Ligadas a la Industria Siderometalurgica asi como Formulacion de Recomenadaciones de Estrategias de desarrollo y de Inversion. Wales, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Wallonias & Ruhrgebiet.  Commissioned Report to the Governor of Asturias, Spain.  Vols. I-V. San Francisco: Industry and Trade Strategies, December