Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book proposes an introductory analysis of the forms of aggregation among enterprises, paying particular attention to network aggregations. It examines peculiarities of the bank-business relationship in depth, from the point of view of network economy. The book tackles with the difficult issue of determining the rating of the network and of the network companies. It presents the results of the empirical survey conducted both by means of a structured questionnaire to a sample of business networks based in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, and through a survey conducted through the technique of case studies both on the demand side and on the supply side. The book proposes elements for conclusions, in an evolutionary perspective.