Network position, export patterns and competitiveness: Evidence from the European automotive industry

  1. Gracia, M. 1
  2. Paz, M.J. 1
  1. 1 ICEI, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
Revista:
Competition & Change

ISSN: 1024-5294,  1477-2221

Año de publicación: 2017

Volumen: 21

Número: 2

Páginas: 132-158

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.1177/1024529417692331 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso abierto editor

Otras publicaciones en: Competition & Change

Resumen

The organizational characteristics of production in the European automotive industry have favoured a high degree of fragmentation and productive mobility. This article analyses the differing national positions of automotive producing countries and their export patterns - particularly their export reorientation to extra-European Union markets following the collapse of regional demand in the European automotive industry. Based on the methodologies of Mahutga and Piana, our position analysis arrives at two main conclusions: (i) the countries best positioned in the European regional automotive production network are precisely those that have experienced a greater increase in extra-European Union exports, thus reducing their dependence on regional European demand; (ii) the increase in extra-European Union exports (mainly of final goods) is linked to increased regional fragmentation of production in the automotive industry. We conclude that the governance of this fragmentation process is a key determinant of extra-European Union export competitiveness

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