Research, Quality, Competitiveness

by Stajano, Attilio; Murphy, Brian M.; Sbragia, Alberta M.

• ISBN13: 9780387792644
• ISBN10: 0387792643
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-10-10
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

"This book covers a gap in EU policy literature by addressing the intersection between research policy and industrial policy. It analyzes how the EU supports the competitiveness of domestic companies and the common objective of sustained (and sustainable) economic growth. An exhaustive introduction to the founding principles, institutions, and activities of the EU and an overview of the 15 new and candidate member states are also provided. This new edition is thoroughly revised and extended to incorporate updated and new material and data on the new RD Framework Program, the Lisbon Agenda, the EU Reform Treaty, and the EU enlargement. The appendix and accompanying website contain ancillary distance-learning material, extended readings, country-specific data, and other materials for producing course notes and visuals. The book will be useful for lecturers, students, politicians and civil servants who are interested in EU technology policy as well as for professionals who are involved in EU funded RD projects."--BOOK JACKET.

Table of Contents

Competitiveness of the European Union
Origins of the European Union	p. 3
After the Second World War	p. 3
The Treaty of Rome	p. 4
Enlargement of the European Economic Community	p. 6
Main Steps in the Construction of the European Union	p. 7
Recommended Reading	p. 7
Overview of Member States	p. 9
Geographic Data	p. 9
Demographic Data	p. 9
Economic Data	p. 19
Recommended Reading	p. 33
Competitiveness of the European Economy	p. 35
European Economy and Global Market	p. 35
GDP in the World	p. 36
Industrial Structure	p. 40
Shares in the High-Tech Market	p. 42
Industrial Specialization	p. 43
Emerging Economies	p. 44
Comparing Productivity in the Triad	p. 57
Standard of Living	p. 62
European Union's Foreign Trade	p. 65
Foreign Trade with Enlargement Countries	p. 73
Italy's Foreign Trade	p. 73
EU Foreign Trade in the Textile Industry	p. 77
Foreign Trade and Competition with Emerging Economies	p. 79
Services and Infrastructures	p. 85
Comparing Countries' Competitiveness	p. 85
Factors Contributing to Growth in Competitiveness	p. 97
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises	p. 111
Policy Guidelines	p. 119
Policy Guidelines for Italy	p. 122
Prospects	p. 124
Recommended Reading	p. 125
Competitiveness and Quality	p. 127
Cost of Labour	p. 127
Measuring Quality	p. 129
Unit Value	p. 131
RQE Index	p. 132
PPS Index	p. 133
Exports and Quality	p. 133
Quality Premium	p. 139
Classification of Industrial Sectors in Terms of Quality	p. 139
System to Monitor the Quality Position of National Economies	p. 146
Is "Good Enough" Better Than "Best"?	p. 147
Outlook	p. 148
Fiat Auto: A Case Study	p. 149
Recommended Reading	p. 155
Research and Technology Policy in the European Union
EU Research: Objectives and Results	p. 159
From Euratom to the Framework Program	p. 160
Results of EU Research	p. 168
Research Funding	p. 176
R&D Funding from the Financial Market	p. 183
Participating in Research Activities	p. 184
Evaluation Criteria of Research Proposals	p. 186
Recommended Reading	p. 188
Framework Programs	p. 189
Fifth Framework Program	p. 189
Sixth Framework Program	p. 190
Funding for the Seventh Framework Program	p. 191
Implementing the Seventh Framework Program	p. 193
The European Research Council	p. 196
The European Institute of Technology	p. 197
Projects and Results in the Areas of the Ongoing Framework Programs	p. 198
Recommended Reading	p. 199
Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Competitiveness	p. 201
Community-Funded Research and Enterprise Innovation	p. 201
A New Entrepreneurship in a Knowledge-Based Economy	p. 202
Context and Objectives of Innovation Policy	p. 203
Funding Innovation Policy	p. 204
The Eureka Initiative	p. 207
Obstacles to Innovation	p. 208
Innovation in the U.S.	p. 212
Technology Transfer in the European Union	p. 214
Recommended Reading	p. 215
Competitiveness in the Knowledge-Based Society	p. 217
The Third Industrial Revolution	p. 217
e-Business	p. 219
e-Government	p. 222
The Initial Formulation of the Lisbon Strategy	p. 223
The e-Europe Projects	p. 226
i-2010 - A European Information Society for Growth and Employment	p. 227
The Revamped Lisbon Strategy	p. 228
Monitoring the Progress	p. 230
Enterprise Strategy in the Knowledge-Based Society	p. 241
The Bottom Line	p. 259
Recommended Reading	p. 260
The Position of the EU in the Quest for Competitiveness and Beyond	p. 261
Recommended Reading	p. 265
Overview of the Institutional Context of the European Union
From the Treaty of Rome to the Reform Treaty of Lisbon	p. 269
Evolution of the Treaties	p. 269
Institutions of the European Union	p. 287
Acts of the Institutions	p. 301
Activities of the European Union	p. 303
Implementation of Community Policies	p. 304
Recommended Reading	p. 307
Enlargement of the European Union	p. 309
What is There to Gain?	p. 310
Criteria for Accession to the European Union	p. 311
Accession Countries and the Euro	p. 312
First Wave of Enlargement	p. 313
An Overview of the 2004 Enlargement	p. 314
The 2004 Enlargement Three Years On	p. 369
Second Wave: An Overview of the 2007 Enlargement	p. 377
A New Set of Candidate Countries Includes Turkey: A Litmus Test for European Identity	p. 388
Recommended Reading	p. 419
Budget of the European Union	p. 421
Financial Perspectives	p. 421
Resources	p. 424
Expenditure	p. 426
Return on Contributions	p. 428
Recommended Reading	p. 429
Internal Market and Competition	p. 431
Internal Market	p. 431
Competition Policy	p. 437
Transformations Introduced by the Internal Market	p. 440
Policies for the Creation of the Internal Market	p. 441
Impact of the Internal Market	p. 442
Research, the Internal Market, and Competitiveness	p. 443
Competition Policy and R&D Funding	p. 444
The Way Ahead	p. 444
Recommended Reading	p. 445
Economic and Monetary Union	p. 447
History of Monetary Integration	p. 447
Criteria for Qualification	p. 448
Introduction Stages of the Euro	p. 450
EMU and Budget Balance	p. 451
European Central Bank	p. 455
Euro Versus Dollar	p. 456
Prospects for the European Economy With a Strong Euro	p. 457
Monetary Stability	p. 462
Economic and Monetary Union and Member States Sovereignty	p. 463
Stability and Growth Pact	p. 464
EMU and Enlargement	p. 467
Advantages of the Euro	p. 467
Recommended Reading	p. 472
Steps in the Construction of the European Union	p. 473
University Courses on Research, Quality, and Competitiveness	p. 481
Contents of the Recommended Reading Web Site	p. 487
Recommended Reading	p. 487
Figures	p. 487
Tables	p. 488
Slides	p. 488
Link to Updates	p. 488
Book Reviews	p. 488
Errata	p. 488
Recommended Reading by Chapter	p. 488
References	p. 503
Glossary	p. 521
Acronyms and Abbreviations	p. 527
Index	p. 533
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