Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Giuseppe Volpato Author-Name: Francesco Zirpoli Title: The auto industry: from unfettered expansion to sustainable development. Challenges and opportunities Abstract: This article provides an overview of the main consequences of the recent economic crisis on the auto industry and examines its implications for firms? strategies in the light of the recent turn of public policies. We show that the "industry of industries" is still a potential source of organizational, strategic and managerial innovation. We also submit that firms? strategies and industrial policies would greatly benefit from a more focused and analytical approach combining both micro and macro perspectives. Classification-JEL: L22, L62, L53, L52 Keywords: Industria automobilistica, strategia d?impresa, sviluppo sostenibile, auto elettrica Note: Pages:5-24 Volume: 2011/2 Year: 2011 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=42528&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:polipo:v:html10.3280/POLI2011-002001 Number: 1 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Takahiro Fujimoto Title: Complexity explosion and capability building in the world auto industry: an application of design-based comparative advantage Abstract: Based on the framework of design-based comparative advantage, in which the dynamic fit between the organizational capabilities of manufacturing sites and the architectures of products and processes affects the competitiveness of the sites and industries, the paper describes and analyzes various issues in the world automobile industry. The current U.S. auto crisis is seen as a long-term consequence of the gap between the division-of-labor type capability and the integral-type architecture of small cars. The competitiveness of the Japanese in the small car market of the late 20th century is illustrated as the fit between the path-dependent accumulation of coordination-type organizational capability and the stricter safety-energy-environmental constraints imposed upon automobiles by the advanced nations. The possibility of commoditizing the automobiles is discussed from the modularization viewpoint, indicating the modular nature of the locally-designed Chinese vehicles and the integral nature of an Indian low-cost vehicle. The architectural differences between pure electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are emphasized as the paper discusses the potential and the limitations of the former. Toyota?s recent recall problem is seen as the problem of product complexity overwhelming the company?s organizational capability in design. Classification-JEL: F10, M11, O14 Keywords: Produzione, industria automobilistica, Toyota, globalizzazione, mercificazione, vantaggio comparativo, veicolo elettrico Note: Pages:25-49 Volume: 2011/2 Year: 2011 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=42529&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:polipo:v:html10.3280/POLI2011-002002 Number: 2 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Susan Helper Title: Challenge and opportunity in the U.S. auto industry: the key role of suppliers Abstract: The U.S. economic crisis of 2008-2009 hit the automotive industry particularly hard; sales fell suddenly by 40% in the third quarter of 2008. The U.S. policy response to this automotive crisis was somewhat misdirected, attempting to solve the wrong problems. The U.S. automakers did not have a cost problem. Instead, they faced a price problem: consumers were willing to buy vehicles from the Detroit Three only if they were priced at least two thousand dollars less than their competition. The paper argues that the cause of this price problem was a failure over decades to adapt to new competitive methods introduced by Japanese automakers, methods which made untenable the traditionally hostile relationship the automakers had with their workforce and suppliers. Though the policies adopted by the U.S. government had their flaws, they may still be effective in returning profitability to U.S.-owned automakers, albeit in the context of a smaller and lower-paid industry. Classification-JEL: Keywords: Industria automobilistica, relazioni con i fornitori, sistema produttivo Toyota, United Auto Workers Note: Pages:51-68 Volume: 2011/2 Year: 2011 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=42530&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:polipo:v:html10.3280/POLI2011-002003 Number: 3 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Michel Freyssenet Title: The start of a second automobile revolution: corporate strategies and public policies Abstract: The paper compares the current automobile scenario with the debut of the automobile to understand whether the development of cleaner cars could trigger the start of a "Second Automobile Revolution". Four conditions led to the appearance and widespread adoption of the oil car: (i) the crisis of the previous transport system; (ii) the development of various technical solutions, thanks to innovations coming from other sectors; (iii) the formation of a coalition of actors to implement one of those solutions despite its great uncertainties; (iv) and the macro-economic decisions and public policies that ensured the generalization of the adopted solution. Today, the first and second conditions appear to exist in that, it being no longer physically or economically viable to continue the oil car motorization of the large emerging countries, various alternative cars have been designed. At present, we are observing the creation of actors? coalitions to support the various solutions, although commercial, geopolitical and economical reasons could lead to the preponderance of the electric car, making it the car of a "Second Automobile Revolution". That would completely change the architecture, the industry, the geography, the economy, the geopolitics, and the sociology of the automobile. Classification-JEL: D2, D74, L20, L50, L62, N80, 030 Keywords: Industria dell?automobile, rivoluzione dell?automobile, macchine pulite, veicolo elettrico, strategia del profitto, coalizione di attori Note: Pages:69-84 Volume: 2011/2 Year: 2011 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=42531&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:polipo:v:html10.3280/POLI2011-002004 Number: 4 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Aldo Enrietti Author-Name: Pier Paolo Patrucco Title: Systemic innovation and organizational change in the car industry: electric vehicle innovation platforms Abstract: The design and development of electric vehicles (EVs) is a complex and distributed process that has led to the creation of large partnerships the aim of which is to learn and acquire selective technological competencies, including those developed outside the car industry. The introduction of electric vehicles can be described as a collective innovation wherein different actors, such as traditional OEMs (original equipment manufacturer), automobile battery producers, utilities, and system integrators contribute their complementary resources and technologies, to work towards common goals and incentives. We argue that the process of integration, coordination and direction of the different strategies and goals of the various organizations involved demands a novel form of organization that combines the scope of learning typical of networks with the coherence of the centralized decision-making typical of the vertical corporation. We identify the innovation platform, which has recently been the focus of numerous studies in the field of innovation, as the appropriate organizational solution to the problem of dynamic coordination. Classification-JEL: O31, O32, O33 Keywords: Innovazione collettiva, auto elettriche, struttura industriale, cambio organizzativo, piattaforme Note: Pages:85-106 Volume: 2011/2 Year: 2011 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=42532&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:polipo:v:html10.3280/POLI2011-002005 Number: 5 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Carlo Cambini Author-Name: Francesca De Girolamo Author-Name: Elena Fumagalli Title: Regolazioni incentivante e qualit?: il caso della distribuzione elettrica in Italia Abstract: The past ten years have seen a number of European regulatory authorities introduce statutory incentives to the electricity distribution sector aimed at improving efficiency, supporting investment, and increasing service quality. In practice, these incentive schemes evolve over time to account for the goals achieved, the lessons learned and the emergence of new priorities. The paper focuses on the Italian experience of regulating service quality in the electricity distribution sector. As the fourth tariff revision approaches, we pinpoint two specific problems worth addressing before the next period. First, despite a significant convergence of results, quality levels in southern Italy are still lower than in the north. Second, a significant number of distribution areas have already achieved the long-term objectives set by the regulator; even if no further improvements are observed, companies are still entitled to significant rewards. We suggest that: i) the relationship between incentive regulation and quality in electricity networks needs further analysis; and ii) the present reward and penalty mechanism might need adjusting to specifically address the abovementioned issues. Classification-JEL: L51, L94, L98 Keywords: Regolazione incentivante, distribuzione elettrica, qualit? del servizio Note: Pages:107-123 Volume: 2011/2 Year: 2011 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=42533&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:polipo:v:html10.3280/POLI2011-002006 Number: 6 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Fabio Pammolli Author-Name: Nicola C. Salerno Title: La distribuzione dei farmaci tra progetti di riforma e incertezze Abstract: The paper provides a detailed description of the legal and regulatory framework that governs Italian pharmacies and the retail distribution of pharmaceuticals, as well as the government?s recent attempts to reform and modernize the system. The picture to emerge is a clear example of an over-regulated market closed to competition; in fact, while the declared intention is to protect the public health and citizens, the regulatory machinery appears designed precisely to favor the interests of incumbent pharmacies and pharmacists. In conclusion, the paper proposes some policy guidelines, also based on the considerations, suggestions and provisions that both the Italian Antitrust and the European Commission have been developing over the past few years. Classification-JEL: L11, L13, L43, I11, I18, K21, K32 Keywords: Farmacie, prodotti farmaceutici, concorrenza, riforme strutturali, economia e diritto Note: Pages:125-148 Volume: 2011/2 Year: 2011 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=42534&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:polipo:v:html10.3280/POLI2011-002007 Number: 7 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Riccardo Gallo Title: Rinuncia alla crescita del sistema produttivo italiano Abstract: The Mediobanca survey on companies? financial data suggests that from 2000 to 2009 Italian industrial companies didn?t pay out on investments the whole yearly cash inflow and distributed entirely their net earnings to the shareholders. At the same time they extended property, plant and equipment useful life in order to reduce the amount of the depreciation; in this way they succeeded in saving their financial structure and profitability. The lack of competitiveness is at the same time the cause and the consequence of the decreasing shareholders? propensity to invest. Opening the markets to a more vigorous competition is the best answer to the problem of competitiveness. Classification-JEL: H81 Keywords: Bilanci, imprese, crescita, competitivit? Note: Pages:149-157 Volume: 2011/2 Year: 2011 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=42535&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:polipo:v:html10.3280/POLI2011-002008 Number: 8