Publications

2003
Vera, A., Badia, A. & Pallares-Barbera, M., 2003. Firm network and Internet in the mountain rural areas of Catalonia (Spain) (La adopción de Internet en la red de empresas y la percepción de la nueva economía en comarcas semi-remotas de tradición industrial de Catalunya). Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles , 36 , pp. 129-147. Publisher's VersionAbstract
The decreasing impact of distance in the exchange of information has changed the way in which business are done. Mountain areas close to metropolitan spaces have received new firms and the old business network adjusted to these new technologies in their everyday operations. Competitive advantages have reshaped regions and they generated new locational model. The objective of this article is to study the process of business location in Catalonia's mountain areas (Spain) taking into account Internet and new technologies. Keywords: ICT, rural areas, industrial location, economic geography.
internet_montana_2003.pdf
2002
Pallares-Barbera, M., et al., 2002. Area taxonomy in the Pyrenees (Taxonomía de áreas en el Pirineo catalán: aproximación metodológica al análisis de variables socio-territoriales). In MÉTODOS CUANTITATIVOS, SISTEMAS DE INFORMACIÓN GEOGRÁFICA Y TELEDETECCIÓN. CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA DE LA INFORMACIÓN GEOGRÁFICA EN UN MUNDO GLOBALIZADO. Valladolid, Spain. Valladolid, Spain: AGE Grupo Tecnologías de la Información Geográfica.Abstract taxonomia_pirineo_catalan.pdf
Pallares-Barbera, M., 2002. Enterprise embeddedness and Industrial Innovation in Spain: An Overview. In Embedded enterprise and social capital: international perspectives. Aldershot UK. Aldershot UK: Ashgate, pp. Ashgate: 113-126. WebsiteAbstract

The concept of “embeddedness” refers to the social construction of inter-firm relationships and the enmeshing of economic relationships within broader social structures and relationships in particular places. Previous research has suggested “embedding” is the best way to generate local growth and social capital and has focused on SMEs in Europe and North America, although the existing model is being more widely adopted now. This volume is the first to examine the complex processes of “embedding” in this wider context. Bringing together a broad range of case studies from the developed and developing world which address the nature of embeddedness from various perspectives, it not only questions the universality of the current model and the policy initiatives it has spawned but also provides a much wider understanding of “embeddedness”. It does so by discussing the social dimensions more fully and
by throwing light on the spatial and temporal ambiguity of the concept and its inadequate treatment of power.

Contents
Approaching embeddedness, Michael Taylor and Simon Leonard; Embeddedness and innovation, Ron Boschma, Jan Lambooy and Veronique Schutjens; Rethinking institutions and embeddedness in a third world context, Giles Mohan; Supply chains, embeddedness and the restructuring of Argentina’s tanning industry, Kjersti Wølneberg; Going places? Reflections on embedding and disembedding in agriculture and horticulture under neoliberalism: the example of Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, David Hayward, Christina Stringer and Richard Le Heron; Weakening ties: the embeddedness of small UK electronics firms, Sara Openshaw and Michael Taylor;
Enterprise embeddedness and industrial innovation in Spain: an overview, Montserrat Pallares-Barbera; Local embeddedness in global financial services: Australian evidence in ‘the end of geography’, Pierre Agnes; Local embeddedness and service firms: evidence from Southern England, Paul Search
and Michael Taylor; Embedded project-production in magazine publishing: a case of self-exploitation?, Carol Ekinsmyth; Local embeddedness, ‘institutional thickness’ and the state regulation of local labour markets, Simon Leonard; Diasporic embeddedness and Asian women entrepreneurs in the UK, Irene Hardill, Parvati Raghuram and Adam Strange; Over- and Under-embeddedness: failures in developing mixed embeddedness among Israeli entrepreneurs, Michael Sofer and Izhak Schnell; Enterprise, embeddedness and exclusion: business relationships in a small island developing economy, Michael Taylor; The local embeddedness of firms in Turkish industrial districts: the changing roles of networks in local development, Ayda Eraydin; Understanding embeddedness, Michael Taylor and Simon Leonard.

embeddedness.pdf embedded_cover_credits.pdf
Pallares-Barbera, M., Minguillón Alfonso, J. & Lloret, T., 2002. Towards a web based system for teaching quantitative geography models. International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies in Education (ICTE 2002) ICTE_Badajoz_2002 , pp. 1035-1039. Publisher's Version
Badia i Perpinyà, A., Pallares-Barbera, M. & Piñol, J., 2002. Fires in peripherical urban areas and fires in rural areas. A case study of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona and the county of Bages (Incendis periurbans front a incendis rurals. Els casos de l’Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona i la comarca del Bages). Documents d'Anàlisi Geogràfica , 41 , pp. 17-42. Publisher's VersionAbstract
Forest fires require specific response depending on the physical features of the terrain and its social use. This paper shows two areas which, have completely different ignitor characteristics despite their spatial proximity. These are the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, which is completely urban, and the county of Bages, much more rural. These differences have been observed from the collection and analysis of the data of the fires that took place in these two areas between 1987 and 1998. The data show a different distribution of fire outbreaks in more dense urban areas and in more spread out rural areas, where fires are more difficult to detect. This fact explains why a larger area was burnt in Bages during the lapse of time studied. It is important, thus, that the policies to be applied are customized with specific and differentiate characteristics for every case. Key words: forest fires, ignition, propagation, Geographical Information Systems, continuity of vegetation mass.
Fires_Periphery_Urban_Areas.pdf
2001
Pallares-Barbera, M. & Vera, A., 2001. Economic spaces and industrial innovative milieus in the region of Berguedà (Spain) (Espais econòmics i milieus innovatius industrials a la comarca del Berguedà). Documents d’Anàlisi Geogràfica , 38 , pp. 33-53. Publisher's VersionAbstract
The main objective of this paper is to study comparative advantages of the Berguedà region (Catalonia) for the industrial network of small and medium enterprises, based on three elements: territory, economic and social. Results are placed on the basis of the performance of three main actors: small and medium enterprises, institutions and territory. Three endogenous development models are used to analyse competitive strategies of economic development in the region: industrial district, innovative milieu and industrial embeddedness. Key words: Berguedà, industrial district, innovative milieu, industrial embeddedness, endogenous development model.
Ec_spaces_milieus.pdf
2000
Industrial embeddedness and innovative milieu in the Berguedà County (Spain). (Incrustación industrial y medio innovador en la comarca del Berguedà)
Pallares-Barbera, M., et al., 2000. Industrial embeddedness and innovative milieu in the Berguedà County (Spain). (Incrustación industrial y medio innovador en la comarca del Berguedà). In Innovación, pequeña empresa y desarrollo local en España. Madrid. Madrid: Civitas, pp. 195-210.Abstract
Durante los noventa se han registrado procesos de desarrollo económico local que han respondido a factores de diversos tipos. Muchos de estos han sobrepasado lo que estrictamente pueda explicarse como factor económico, para enmarcarse en lo que se llaman factores enraizados en redes sociales y culturales de un espacio determinado. El objetivo de este capítulo es el estudio del comportamiento de la actividad industrial en la comarca del Berguedà, en Catalunya, basándose en las interrelaciones que se establecen entre la actividad económica y el territorio. Enfatizando el papel constituyente de los vínculos entre empresa y colectivo social y cultural del propio territorio, como factor principal para el desarrollo local y base del resurgimiento de la actividad económica e innovadora en la región. Las características intrínsecas del Berguedà como comarca con larga tradición industrial, pero alejada de las áreas consideradas más idóneas para la localización industrial, aportan interés específico para el análisis de su desarrollo económico. No debe obviarse la particularidad de que el Berguedà constituye parte integrante del grupo de comarcas de montaña de Catalunya, y de que fue uno de los territorios donde empezó la revolución industrial en España. Por tanto, por una parte, la tradición industrial juega un papel esencial en cada estadio de su desarrollo, hasta cierto punto se puede afirmar que puede ser la semilla de posteriores revitalizaciones de la región. Que, por otra parte, está en continua dialéctica con el bajo nivel de economías de urbanización, carencia histórica de la zona. Hace falta añadir que esta comarca sufrió unos altos niveles de desindustrialización durante los ochenta, que hizo necesaria la intervención de políticas institucionales encaminadas a paliar los crecientes niveles de desestructuración económica y desempleo. En este marco, el estudio de su restauración industrial parece interesante para revelar los aspectos interiores del mecanismo revitalizador e innovador. Conocimiento necesario para el éxito o fracaso de su futuro desarrollo regional.
articulo_civitas.pdf civitas_2000.pdf
Badia, A., Pallares-Barbera, M. & Piñol, J., 2000. Análisis de Cuadrados para Analizar la Concentración de Igniciones en Áreas Urbanas y Rurales. Los casos del Área Metropolitana de Barcelona y la Comarca del Bages. In Tecnologías Geográficas para el Desarrollo Sostenible. Alcalá de Henares, Madrid. Alcalá de Henares, Madrid: Universidad de Alcalá, Spain: 367-380.Abstract
El objetivo de este artículo es demostrar estadísticamente que la distribución de incendios responde a patrones de comportamiento regular, aleatorio o agrupado dependiendo de la tipología del territorio y de sus funciones. La metodología de base consiste en la aplicación del análisis de cuadrados (AC), en el marco de los sistemas de información geográfica (SIG). La distinta distribución espacial que se observa en zonas urbanas, con incendios más concentrados, y en zonas rurales, con incendios más dispersos, es el resultado de comportamientos ignitorios distintos y por lo tanto, las acciones y políticas que se tengan que aplicar, han de resolver situaciones con características específicas y diferenciadas en cada caso. Para definir estos modelos se ha considerado dos ámbitos de la geografía catalana muy distintos en cuanto al uso del territorio y por lo tanto, al comportamiento de los incendios, el Área Metropolitana de Barcelona, zona completamente urbanizada (AMB) y la comarca del Bages, zona con una estructura mucho más rural. Palabras clave: SIG, análisis de cuadrados, igniciones en áreas urbanas, igniciones en áreas rurales.
badia_pallares_univ_alcala.pdf
1998
Changing production systems: The automobile industry in Spain.
Pallares-Barbera, M., 1998. Changing production systems: The automobile industry in Spain. Economic Geography , 74 (4) , pp. 344-359.Abstract
DOI: 10.2307/144329.
1997
Pallares-Barbera, M., 1997. Flexible production system, Just-In-Time and spatial adjustments in the automobile industry in Spain (Sistemas de producción Flexible y Just-In-Time en la industria del automóvil en España). Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles , 24 , pp. 53-71. Publisher's VersionAbstract
During the 1990s the main auto industries in Spain introduced the Just-In-Time system of production. This paper studies the spatial readjustments due too thr production system restructuration.
JIT_Spatial_Adjustments_Auto_Industry_Spain.pdf
1996
Nissan Motor Ibérica in Spain and Japanese production systems
Pallares-Barbera, M., 1996. Nissan Motor Ibérica in Spain and Japanese production systems. In Japan and the European periphery. Basingstoke/London. Basingstoke/London: Macmillan, pp. 180-191.Abstract

The book describes Japanese economic links with peripheral regions in Europe. Focusing particularly on manufacturing investment, the impact of Japanese firms is assessed against a background of increasing European economic integration. The uneven distribution of Japan's economic presence in Europe is emphasized, as is the importance of core economic regions for future investment activity. The growing importance of core regions is then linked to emerging patterns in the growth of science-based industries, as well as efforts by national and regional agencies to attract inward investment.

nissan.pdf japan_cover_credits.pdf
Pallares-Barbera, M., 1996. International economic integration. Industry and region. Interrelationship and dependence on new production systems (Indústria i territori. Interrelació i dependència en els nous sistemes productius). Treballs de la Societat Catalana de Geografia , XI (41) , pp. 77-89. Publisher's VersionAbstract
The aim of this article is to provide a framework for understanding industrial geography in globalization. The economic conditions in which activities and in particular productive activity are following international economic integration. In particular, this article focuses on issues relating to the dynamic relationship between center-periphery and the life cycle of the industry, as well as the transition of production systems. An indirect aim of this paper is to offer an approach to industrial geography as complex phenomena for understanding in undergraduate courses in economic geography.
ind_region_1996.pdf
1994
Pallares-Barbera, M., 1994. Urban Planning, industrial activity and the city. In Industrial Geography Colloquium. Girona Spain. Girona Spain: Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles AGE. v_jornadas_1994.pdf
1993
Pallares-Barbera, M., 1993. The structural and spatial adjustments of the automobile industry in Spain, 1975-1990. Boston, MA: University Microfilms International Dissertation Services, 257 pages; AAT 9317924. Website m.pallares.pdf
1992
Pallares-Barbera, M. & Riera, P., 1992. Characteristics of housing, mobility and the perception of the territory (Característiques de l’habitatge, la mobilitat i la percepció del territory), Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Regionals i Metropolitans de Barcelona.
1991
Authors, V., 1991. Metropolitan Survey of Barcelona 1990: first results (Enquesta Metropolitana de Barcelona 1990: primers resultats), Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Regionals i Metropolitans de Barcelona.
Pallares-Barbera, M., et al., 1991. Secondary housing of Barcelona and its metropolitan area’s population (1985-1990) (La residència secundària de la poblacio de Barcelona i de la seva area metropolitana (1985-1990)), Barcelona: Papers, Regió Metropolitana de Barcelona, Territori, Estratègies i Planejament, Núm. 8. Publisher's Version resid_secund_1991.pdf
Pallares-Barbera, M. & Martínez Edo, X., 1991. Industry (La industria). In Geografia Universal. La población i l’economia en el territori mundial. Barcelona. Barcelona: Edicions 92, pp. 230-273. geografia_universal_la_poblacio_leconomia_vol2_pag230-273.pdf
1990
Authors, V., 1990. The effect of educational reform on the school network in the province of Barcelona (L’efecte de la reforma educativa sobre la xarxa escolar a la província de Barcelona), Barcelona: Diputació de Barcelona. Institut d’Estudis Regionals i Metropolitans de Barcelona.

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