Alliance-driven governance: applying a global commodity chains approach to the UK biotechnology industry

Birch, K. (2008) Alliance-driven governance: applying a global commodity chains approach to the UK biotechnology industry. Economic Geography, 84(1), pp. 84-103. (doi: 10.1111/j.1475-4762.2008.00789.x)

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Publisher's URL: http://www.clarku.edu/econgeography/

Abstract

As the economy has globalized it has also regionalized leading to the integration of different spaces across different scales. A number of theories contend that the endogenous assets of these locations provide them with the means to compete in this globalizing economy, especially in relation to knowledge-based sectors like biotechnology. Amongst these theories, the cluster concept stands out. However, there is little support for the arguments that local linkages are the central contributors to innovation. Extra-local linkages have also been highlighted suggesting that other theories accounting for these linkages may prove useful in the discussion of knowledge-based sectors generally and biotech in particular. One such theory is the concept of global commodity chains which explicitly concerns the inter-connections within and across different geographical scales. As yet it has seldom been applied to the biotech industry. This article seeks to use the approach to explore the UK biotech industry.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:A pre-print of this paper was originally published on 29 October 2007.
Keywords:Biotechnology; clusters; global commodity chains; global production networks; alliance-driven governance
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Birch, Mr Kean
Authors: Birch, K.
Subjects:H Social Sciences > HF Commerce
H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Journal Name:Economic Geography
Publisher:Clark University
ISSN:0013-0095

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