ABSTRACT
The traditional approach, dates back to the 1960s and the notion of subcontracting was strictly linked to the notion of development of a certain area. In their original accepted meanings both these notions are related to the possible industrial and territorial effects arising from development policies focused on the large firm as a catalyst for development (Ferrando 1984). In this framework ‘Perroux’s polarized development theory’ was clearly crucial in explaining the subcontracting role within the industrial system. Many authors highlighted different forms of subcontracting (Sallez and Schlegel 1963; Vennin 1975; Sallez 1975, 1977; Chaillou 1977; Barthomieu et al. 1983): capacity subcontracting (‘sous-traitance concurrence-ou de capacité’), when the customer, unable to achieve the desired production level in-house, acquires an additional labour capacity from a subcontractor; specialization subcontracting (‘sous-traitance complementaire ou de spécialité’), when the subcontractor provides the customer with techniques other than the ones used by the customer itself; Supply-type subcontracting, when design, methods, † This paper was funded by CNR 93.03543.CT11, CNR Strategic Project ‘Trasferimento delle
development and manufacturing are contracted out, this subcontracting is quite similar to what is currently defined as complex subcontracting (Del Monte 1991) or fully developed subcontracting (Saget 1988; De Maio and Maggiore 1992; Esposito and Raffa 1992, 1993).
