Publication details for Professor Ray Hudson

Hudson, R. (2002). Changing industrial production systems and regional development in the New Europe. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers 27(3): 262-281.

• Publication type: Journal Article
• ISSN/ISBN: 0020-2754, 1475-5661
• DOI: 10.1111/1475-5661.00055
• Keywords: Automobile, Clothing, Steel, Regional difference, Economic development, European Union.
• Further publication details on publisher web site
• Durham Research Online (DRO) - may include full text

Author(s) from Durham

• Professor Ray Hudson

Abstract

The continuing expansion and deepening integration of the
European Union is redefining the map of threats and opportunities for both
companies and regions in Europe. In this paper I analyze the changing
geography of the production system in three industries – automobiles,
clothing and steel – as a product of the strategies and tactics of
companies, states (at EU, national and regional levels) and trades unions,
as they seek to shape geographies of production to favour their interests
within this changing European political–economic space. It is argued
that the end product of this process will be the creation of new and
sharper forms of regional uneven development and qualitative
differentiation between regions, as well as a renewed widening rather than
further narrowing of regional differences in economic performance and
well–being.