1,721,066 research outputs found
People-centred policies for a just transition (digital, green and skills)
No full textThe paper contributes to the current debate on just transitions which is exploring what factors and conditions can lead to a twin transition that can also achieve an equitable redistribution of the outputs. The paper draws on the theories of justice, by bringing together three dimensions of justice: distributive, procedural and substantive justice. We apply this framework to explain the socio-economic impact of technology-pushed structural change on the future of work. We define just transition as a triple transition that requires digital and green shifts and crucially, a competence and skill transition that transversally cuts across industries, jobs and professions. The paper analyses the case of a specific region, Emilia Romagna in Italy, which has implemented, particularly since 2010, an original holistic approach to industrial development policy, comprising social and education policies. We conclude that within a national education framework tasked with pivoting the mix of necessary basic knowledge, regions have an important role to play by designing and implementing place-based education and training initiatives that are specific to the regional socio-economic characteristics
Friends do Matter: Strategic Uncertainty and Vertical Integration
No full textIn the literature on vertical relations little attention has been paid to the role of strategic uncertainty, that is, the presence of multiple self-enforcing outcomes which might lead to coordination failure. However, if firms have some degree of freedom in designing the industrial relations they engage, alternative solutions, in the form of vertical contracts, are possible. A game-theoretic model is provided to show how some of the most popular forms of vertical contractual relations can be derived as equilibria of a multi-stage game in which firms bargain over their reciprocal vertical control, in order to minimize the inefficiency created by strategic uncertainty
Medium-sized firms, groups and industrial districts: an Italian perspective
No full textThis chapter analyses Italian industrial districts on the basis of the size of firms by which they are populated. It is observed the emergence and relevance in terms of profitability and competitiveness of a middle capitalism. MSEs presence in district areas is very significant and has expanded in the most recent period. They include stand-alone companies as well as a certain number of industrial groups controlled by family holdings formed by a relatively small number of undertakings; but groups owned by family-holding companies appear to be a significant phenomenon, more so than pure industrial groups. The development in MSEs' presence within industrial districts derives from the new international scenario, where competition has become global and players come either from low industrialized countries or from relocated multinationals' local units. The search for competitiveness has led to a difficult selection of goods to be produced, quality upgrading, a new division of labour with some phases moved outside the industrial districts and a more direct presence in non-Italian market
Place-renewing leadership: trajectories of change for mature manufacturing regions in Europe
No full textThe forces of globalisation now impacting on local economies pose threats to the existing paradigm of competences and routines, yet simultaneously offer opportunities to integrate new knowledge and learning. This is particularly pertinent with respect to Europe's 'mature regions', which are undergoing a major economic restructuring by trying to shift from traditional manufacturing activities to hybrid activities that comprise a combination of manufacturing and a higher component of intangible inputs and related knowledge service activities. The objective of the article is to discuss the concept of 'place leadership' by looking at how the embedded skills, knowledge and cumulated learning of a place can be used by its institutional infrastructure to identify sustainable growth trajectories. In other words, its aim is to explore how the economic, social, institutional and cultural aspects of places shape the opportunities for upgrading and renovation drawing upon their historical specialisation. The conceptual contribution of the article draws on two case studies, in the West Midlands, UK and in Prato, Tuscany, where we study the processes of decision-making, forms of leadership and ultimately the nature of local leadership
Trajectories of change for mature manufacturing regions in Europe: the role of places-renewing leadership
No full textThe forces of globalisation that are impacting on local economies are both posing a threat to the existing paradigm of competences and routines, yet simultaneously offer opportunities to integrate new knowledge and learning. This is particularly pertinent with respect to Europe’s ‘mature regions’, which are undergoing a major economic restructuring by trying to shift from traditional manufacturing activities to hybrid activities that comprise a combination of manufacturing and a higher component of intangible inputs and related knowledge service activities.
The objective of the paper is to discuss the concept of ‘place leadership’ by looking at how the embedded skills, knowledge and cumulated learning of a place can be used by its institutional infrastructure to identify sustainable growth trajectories. In other words, its aim is to explore how the economic, social, institutional and cultural aspects of places shape the opportunities for upgrading and renovation drawing upon their historical specialisation.
In this context, the paper will compare the experience of the West Midlands in the UK and of Prato in Tuscany and identify good practice and policy recommendations
Sequential solidification/stabilization and thermal process under vacuum for the treatment of mercury in sediments
No full textPurpose Millions of cubic meters of sediments are dredged every year in the world. About 10–20%onweight basis of this material is contaminated by organic and/or inorganic pollutants. This work presents the laboratory tests performed to study a system for the remediation and reuse of mercurycontaminated sediments. The treatment is based on a cementbased granulation step (solidification/stabilization (S/S)), followed by a thermal process under vacuum during which volatile and semi-volatile compounds are removed. The experiments focused on: (1) cement hydration reactions; (2) pollutant removal efficiencies; and (3) leaching behavior, in relation to temperature and duration of the thermal process. Mercury speciation was also investigated.
Materials and methods Dredged at the marine harbor of Augusta (SR, Italy), the sediments used in the experiments were highly polluted by mercury (200 mgkg−1dry weight (d.w.)). The recipe applied in the S/S step was based on the particle size distribution of the resulting granulates. An indirectly–heated batch system operated under vacuum (2.6±1.3 103 Pa) at: (1) 150°C for 16 h; (2) 200°C for 6 h; (3) 250°C for 4 h; or (4) 280°C for 4 h. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to study cement hydration reactions. Total mercury concentration and leaching tests were carried out to assess the effects of the different treatment conditions.
Results and discussion The best results were obtained by treating the granulate at 250°C for 4 h. Under these conditions, mercury final concentration was 49 mgkg−1 d.w., resulting in a removal efficiency of 63% referred to the granular material before thermal treatment, and 75% referred to the sediment. The concentrations measured in the leachate were compatible with the Italian requirements for reuse, with some exceptions (pH, chlorides, nickel, copper, and COD) ascribed to the specific nature of the sediment. Mercury speciation analyses pointed out changes after both the treatment steps.
Conclusions The final granulates accomplish most Italian requirements for reuse, even though an improvement in the S/S step or an additional washing step would help for the exceptions mentioned above. Different reuse options in civil engineering (e.g., filling material, road material, concrete aggregates, etc.) will be evaluated also taking into consideration the mechanical properties. Further studies will be carried out to assess the long-term leaching behavior and leaching under different pH conditions
Comparing sediment washing yields using traditional and innovative biodegradable chelating agents,
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Auto- and heterotrophic acidophilic bacteria enhance the bioremediation efficiency of sediments contaminated by heavy metals
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