Marie Coris

Proximity Dynamics, Social Networks and Innovation

There is a growing literature dealing with the role of geographical proximity in the innovation process (Storper and Venables, 2004; Moodysson and Jonsson, 2007; Knoben and Oerlemans, 2006; Fitjar ...

Why Do Firms Relocate? Lessons from a Regional Analysis

Abstract In recent years, the qualitative evolution of relocations (from low-cost offshoring to more technologically intensive relocations) has become a new concern in political debate. Focusing on these new trends, the aim of this paper is to better understand relocations from the firms’ point of view. The concept of relocation is reformulated by adopting a broad definition considering it as a specific dimension of firms’ mobility options. We consider three analytical dimensions: relocation as a productive problem (“relational space” for coordination), relocation in a territorial dimension (“geographical space”) and relocation as a complex decision-making process (“political space”). On this basis, we combine two strands of literature (economics of proximity and institutional approaches of the firm) for a better understanding of the decision-making process and the resulting diversity of situations. The framework is finally applied to the specific case of the Aquitaine region of southwest France in order to identify the conditions of anchoring and mobility of firms in spatial terms. Our aim is to show that the decision-making process of relocations cannot be reduced to a simple cost calculation, leaving room for local public policies.

Les configurations spatiales de l'innovation

L’idee que la concentration geographique est essentielle au processus d’innovation est largement admise. Or, ce lien n’est pas clairement etabli et il convient de reinterroger les relations entre communication, localisation et processus d’innovation. Cet article s’attache a le faire en privilegiant une entree par les dynamiques de proximite, c’est-a-dire par la question de la coordination des acteurs. Nous identifions dans un premier temps le role de la proximite entre les differentes parties prenantes du processus d’innovation. Nous proposons ensuite une typologie de la diversite des configurations spatiales de l’innovation en tenant compte du jeu dynamique des proximites.

Free Software on the Market-Side: The Failure-Story of Free Software Services Companies in France

Considering the French case of Free Software Services Companies (FSSCs), this paper analyses free softwares market-oriented aspects. We try to answer a fundamental question for free software: does the software industry have room for an alternative economic model based on the communities’ ethic? Analysing FSSCs’ competition with traditional IT Services Companies (ITSCs) and regarding the integration of free software in the ITSCs’ product offer, we show how the software sectors structures could explain both FSSCs’ and ITSCs’ recent changes.