Introduction

The variety of research contributed to the international debate by Italian economists has brought the concept of industrial district to general attention. The presence of differentiated local production system characterises the remarkable competitiveness of the whole Italian economy, but particularly of some of the fast-growing regions of the Northeast. The “egalitarian” social structure which exists in many industrial districts located in the North of Italy administered by the Left has attracted the interest of many political economists, even in the US. The focus has shifted towards the analysis of social and economic conditions that have generated a new historical regime in the pattern of industrialisation of some late arriving regions which are more favourable to labour. More atheoretical and exploratory phase of research on the industrial district model is occurring. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.