The limits of convergence : globalization and organizational change in Argentina, South Korea, and Spain / Mauro F. Guillen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Guillén, Mauro F.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Industrial organization--Argentina.

Industrial organization.

Organizational change--Argentina.

Organizational change.

Industrial organization--Korea (South).

Organizational change--Korea (South).

Industrial organization--Spain.

Organizational change--Spain.

International economic integration.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (299 p.)

Edition:

Course Book

Place of Publication:

Princeton, N.J. ; Woodstock : Princeton University Press, 2003.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book challenges the widely accepted notion that globalization encourages economic convergence--and, by extension, cultural homogenization--across national borders. A systematic comparison of organizational change in Argentina, South Korea, and Spain since 1950 finds that global competition forces countries to exploit their distinctive strengths, resulting in unique development trajectories. Analyzing the social, political, and economic conditions underpinning the rise of various organizational forms, Guillén shows that business groups, small enterprises, and foreign multinationals play different economic roles depending on a country's path to development. Business groups thrive when there is foreign-trade and investment protectionism and are best suited to undertake large-scale, capital-intensive activities such as automobile assembly and construction. Their growth and diversification come at the expense of smaller firms and foreign multinationals. In contrast, small and medium enterprises are best fitted to compete in knowledge-intensive activities such as component manufacturing and branded consumer goods. They prosper in the absence of restrictions on export-oriented multinationals. The book ends on an optimistic note by presenting evidence that it is possible--though not easy--for countries to break through the glass ceiling separating poor from rich. It concludes that globalization encourages economic diversity and that democracy is the form of government best suited to deal with globalization's contingencies. Against those who contend that the transition to markets must come before the transition to ballots, Guillén argues that democratization can and should precede economic modernization. This is applied economic sociology at its best--broad, topical, full of interesting political implications, and critical of the conventional wisdom.

Contents:

Front matter

CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS

TABLES

PREFACE

A NOTE ON SOURCES

ONE. ORGANIZATIONS, GLOBALIZATION, AND DEVELOPMENT

PART ONE. DEVELOPMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE

TWO. THREE PATHS TO DEVELOPMENT, THREE RESPONSES TO GLOBALIZATION

THREE. THE RISE AND FALL OF THE BUSINESS GROUPS

FOUR. THE ROLE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

FIVE. MULTINATIONALS, IDEOLOGY, AND ORGANIZED LABOR

PART TWO: ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE AND PERFORMANCE

SIX. DEVELOPING INDUSTRY: AUTOMOBILE AND COMPONENT MANUFACTURING

SEVEN. DEVELOPING SERVICES: BANKING AS AN INDUSTRY IN ITS OWN RIGHT

EIGHT. ON GLOBALIZATION, CONVERGENCE, AND DIVERSITY

APPENDIX. DATA AND SOURCES

REFERENCES

INDEX

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786613134653

9781283134651

1283134659

9781400824205

1400824206

9781400814312

1400814316

OCLC:

730151795