Mikel Buesa

Patterns of technological change among Spanish innovative firms: the case of the Madrid region

Abstract This study is concerned with the examination of the configuration of the innovatory process of a very significant group of firms located in the Madrid region. The analytical perspective has its basis on the existence of a wide variety of possibilities in the innovation process and is linked to the recent tradition of evolutionary theories of technological change. The empirical research starts by identifying the firms which can be classified as innovatory; the analysis, basically made from the findings of a questionnaire sent to these firms, contains three basic elements: first, a study of the main structural characteristics of the firms; second, an analysis of the way in which technological activities are developed in those firms; and, third, a taxonomy of cases following the concept of ‘technological regimes’.

The Economic Cost of March 11: Measuring the Direct Economic Cost of the Terrorist Attack on March 11, 2004 in Madrid

This article attempts to measure the direct costs that the terrorist attacks of 3/11 had on the economy of the region of Madrid. The evaluation has been made applying conservative criteria, and the results obtained have to be considered as minimum. The result indicates that the terrorist attacks caused a loss of nearly 212 million euros to the regional economy of Madrid, equivalent to 0.16 percent of the regional GDP (0.03 of the national GDP). This confirms that the immediate economic dimension of a terrorist attack such as the one of 3/11—apart from human catastrophic consequences—is relatively low.

Untangling Eta'S Finance: An In-Depth Analysis Of The Basque Terrorist'S Economic Network And The Money It Handles

This article aims to analyse the sources of terrorist financing of the Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA). It takes into account the network of entities that, under the leadership and oversight of ETA, have developed the political, economic, cultural, support and propaganda agenda of their terrorist project. This study focuses, in particular, on the periods 1993–2002 and 2003–2010, to observe the changes in the financing of terrorism after the outlawing of Batasuna, ETAs political wing. The results show the significant role of public subsidies in finance the terrorist network. It also proves that the outlawing of Batasuna caused a major change in that funding.

Controlling the international exchanges of armaments and dual-use technologies: The case of Spain

This paper deals with the economic effects of the control systems for armament exports and civil‐military technologies. It describes the institutional framework, taking into account its changes in conception and orientation which occurred due to the dissolution in 1994 of the COCOM and the signing of the Wassenaar Agreement. These changes affected Spanish exports, which are studied on the basis of the data from the period 1991 ‐ 1999. The control systems affected 1 per cent of Spanish exports. This impact has been decreasing over time, after the institutional change. Computer industries, telecommunications and aerospace have been the most affected industries. Exports subject to authorisation were the ones to other members of NATO and the Asian economies.

Peldaños de la violencia terrorista: ETA en la tregua de 2006–2007

Resumen Este artículo examina las razones que condujeron al gobierno español a establecer una negociación con ETA durante los años 2006 y 2007. Para ello, la organización terrorista declaró una tregua que se concibió como un repliegue estratégico destinado a facilitar su fortalecimiento en los planos humano, logístico, financiero y político. Asimismo, puso sobre la mesa negociadora su exigencia de independencia para los vascos. La negociación se desarrolló en un clima de violencia creciente que se expresó en el terrorismo callejero, la extorsión a los empresarios y las acciones logísticas. El gobierno no pudo satisfacer las exigencias de ETA a pesar de haber aceptado entrar en el contenido político de la negociación. Como consecuencia, la política de negociación fracasó y ETA reanudó su campaña de atentados.

Hit the Core or Weaken the Periphery? Comparing Strategies to Break the Circle of Violence with an Embryonic Terrorist Group: The Case of Galician Resistance

ABSTRACT This article studies whether the action-reaction model holds on an “embryonic” terrorist group like Galician Resistance (REGA). After presenting an overview of REGA’s history, structure, financing, terrorist campaigns, and the police measures adopted against them, the text empirically contrasts whether deterrence is an efficient measure in reducing an incipient terrorist group’s actions. Our results show that deterrence does in fact reduce the number of attacks when aimed at the group’s periphery. However, it causes a backlash of new attacks when aimed at the group’s core. In addition, we prove that an increase in the number of attacks also causes a reaction by police forces and a higher number of detentions of core members. Our results give some meaningful insights into the design of counter-terrorism strategies aimed against “embryonic” groups.