Industrial districts' re-location processes: identifying policies in the perspective of eu enlargement

The different models of Western EU Industrial Districts (IDs) composed mainly by SMEs could represent suitable developmental models for Eastern economies. In fact different SMEs belonging to IDs are re-locating and sub-contracting in Eastern areas. The research will investigate if, and under which conditions, the existence in Eastern areas of such nucleuses of SMEs coming from Western IDs can provide a sustainable background for the development of Eastern IDs.The research will analyse both: (i) the evolutionary patterns of Western IDs involved in internationalisation process, taking into account the learning phenomena related to their development;(ii) the replicability of different Western ID models in accession countries.Macro, mesa and micro policy options will be designed for supporting the emerging trends in this field within the process of European enlargement.