David Luque Balbona

Un análisis regional de la actividad huelguística en España (A Regional Study of Strikes in Spain)

Spain is the country with the highest number of industrial disputes in the European Union. Moreover, figures show relevant differences across regions. In this article, an analysis is made of the strike frequency, participation and lost working days during the period 1987-2006. We relate these figures to the industrial distribution of employment, the unemployment rate, the existence of regional pacts and agreements and the political orientation of the population. The regressions show the influence of all these aspects on the frequency, the magnitude and the volume of strikes. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.138 on Thu, 19 May 2016 04:49:22 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms DAVID LUQUE BALBONA, BEGONA CUETO IGLESIAS Y FRANCISCO JAVIER MATO DIAZ David Luque Balbona Licenciado en Ciencias del Trabajo en la Universidad de Oviedo. En la actualidad es becario FPU en el Departamento de Sociologia de la misma Universidad. He graduated in Labour Sciences at the University of Oviedo, and currently holds an FPU (university teacher training) scholarship in the Department of Sociology at the same University. Begona Cueto Iglesias Doctora en Ciencias Economicas por la Universidad de Oviedo. En la actualidad es Profesora Titular Interina en el Departamento de Economia Aplicada de la misma Universidad. She gained her doctorate in Economics at the University of Oviedo. She currently holds the post of Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the same University. Francisco Javier Mato Diaz Doctor en Ciencias Economicas por la Universidad de Oviedo. En la actualidad es Profesor Titular de Universidad en el Departamento de Economia Aplicada de la misma Universidad. He gained his doctorate in Economics at the University of Oviedo. He currently holds the post of Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the same University. Edificio Departamental de Ciencias Juridico-Sociales, 2.a planta. Avda. del Cristo, s/n. 33006 Oviedo. Spain.

Multinationals and regional economies: embedding the regime shoppers?

In a context in which multinational corporations are increasingly able to choose their locations of production, this article examines how social and political governance actors in host regional economies attempt to attract and retain foreign direct investment. Based on a comparative study of two regions in each of Canada, Ireland, Spain and the UK, it shows both national and in some cases sub-national variations in the nature of attempts to attract and retain foreign investment, as well as in the actors involved. The article also discusses how these differences in policy interact with the characteristics of specific foreign investors. Our findings support arguments that attempts to embed regime-shopping firms are facilitated by active governance from social as well as state actors.

Embedding multinational firms in regional business systems: neoliberal and social-democratic models in Spain

The paper analyses how regional actors have mobilised to attract and retain foreign direct investment in two Spanish regions with different political approaches to the management of economic issues, including industrial relations. These regions are Madrid, the main pole of attraction of foreign direct investment in Spain, and Asturias, with a large tradition of heavy industry and a greater dependence on a small number of large employers. It finds the regions have adapted to international competition in substantially different manners and considers the alternative reasons why this might be the case, highlighting the role of organised labour both in the inward investment regimes themselves, and in shaping the nature of the different compromises they involve.

Multinational Corporations, Sub-national Governance and Human Resources: A Cross-national Comparison for Europe

In the context of the transnationalisation of productive systems and changing dynamics of competition to host foreign direct investment (FDI), it is commonly argued, both in economic geography and in discussions of the political economy of FDI, that relatively local, sub-national governance actors play an increasing role in attempting to connect regions to global production. This applies both to negotiating with current and potential investors, and to establishing wider business systems which will attract FDI and try to ‘embed’ it within the relevant geographical space.