Analysis of the development of regional productive systems from a structural relational approach the cases of Andalusia and the Basque Country

Abstract

This work analyses productive systems from a structural relational perspective. This has been done theoretically and also empirically, discussing the adoption of the network perspective and relating the structure and evolution of productive systems with development. The benefits of adopting the network perspective as a methodological approach in economic research are shown. From this perspective, the consideration of the social character of economic actors and relationships is made possible with this methodology. Moreover, territory and history are also considered as fundamental factors when studying economic relationships. In order to consider the whole set of economic agents and links acting in a particular geographic context different concepts are discussed. The regional productive system concept is considered the most appropriate to study economic structures from a network interdisciplinary perspective. The structural analysis is then approached by studying the structure and evolution of regional productive systems. The method selected to study the systems from a relational view is social network analysis, although also input-output indices are used. From their application to the Spanish regions of Andalusia and the Basque Country in 1980 and 1995, two production systems have been selected in each region: an agro-food system and a metal-mechanical system. Once they have been studied and compared, institutional information is added to analyse them as regional productive systems. The comparison allows conclusions to be obtained that are related to the existence and persistence of development interregional differences. Therefore, a set of hypotheses are tested through mechanism causality establishing relationships between productive systems and structures and differences in regional development. Hypotheses refer to the structure of production systems, the role of services in the systems and the role of social capital on development.