Robert Boyer

Jean-Pierre Durand

After the Second World War, the economics of the western capitalist countries were based on a production system called fordism, but in the mid 1970s this system began to break down, and it has been in crisis since. But does resolving this crisis imply a complete break with the past, notably with the principles of Taylor and Ford? Based on an analysis of the transformations currently taking place in several international companies, this book reveals the complexities and subtleties of today's transitions.

After Fordism

Steven Tolliday

Elsie Charron

Ulrich Jurgens

Recent years have seen intense debates among management and academics on the rise of `lean production' and `Japanization'. Some authors have stressed the `universal' impact of new forms of work organization and `best practice' while others have questioned the limits of convergence, stressed the weight of national contexts or `societal effects', or highlighted the evolutionary effects of unpredictability in the external environment. The international automobile industry has been a focus for much of this debate and this book, written by a team of leading international researchers in the field, uses this industry to examine in detail the actual practice of the transfer and adaptation of productive models and the trajectories of innovation, compromise, and failure that can result. Case studies cover in detail the Japanese transplant experience in North America, and the global experience of hybrid production systems in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The book contributes to theoretical discussions about the transfer, adaptation, or convergence of productive models. In particular, the authors argue that direct transplantation or imitation of these models is rarely feasible or even desirable. Systems cannot be transferred without being significantly reshaped. Instead, the book focuses on the process of `hybridization', the complex interaction of productive models with national and societal effects. Hybridization, it is argued, is inevitable. But this should be seen not simply as a process of compromise and retreat but also as an important dynamic of innovation and learning. This book is from the French-based international research network GERPISA (Groupe d'étude de récherche permanent sur l'industrie et les salaries de l'automobile). See related titles below.

The Transfer and Hybridization of Productive Models in the International Automobile Industry

Between Imitation and Innovation

Before the terrorist attack in Charlotte (the Queen City), a future Lakota Indian chief, Alex Napayshni New Eagle, is born in South Dakota in 1919. More importantly, the name Alex means "Warrior" and the name Napayshni means "Courageous." In 1944, Alex becomes a paratrooper for the United States Army's 82nd Airborne Division. He is based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, United States. A few months later, in the very early morning hours of June 6, 1944, Alex's Army unit jumps out of a C-47 twin-engine airplane during the historic Battle of Normandy. However, the aircraft drops them on the German Army. He receives a few serious bullet wounds. At the same time, the Germans take out most of his unit. Once on the ground, Alex goes to a hospital in a medevac vehicle. Due to his war injuries, he can't reenlist. However, he has a desire to reenlist. After all is said and done, Alex will be honorably discharged as an Army Sergeant (SGT). On December 5, 1963, the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) becomes activated at Fort Bragg. At the same time, SGT Jerry Smith knows the Army history of Chief New Eagle. As a result, SGT Smith volunteers for the U.S. Army Special Forces. After completing Special Forces training, SGT Smith becomes a Sergeant First Class (SFC). More importantly, he is assigned to the 3rd SFG (A). In the mid-1960s, the 3rd SFG (A) is deployed to the Vietnam War. SFC Smith encounters a super warrior called a Knight Eagle in the Vietnam War. SFC Smith keeps quiet about what he saw. However, the Knight Eagle fights secretly with the allies for humanitarian freedom. On September 11, 2001, Al-Qaeda bombs the United States. The United States Army Special Forces deploys to Afghanistan within weeks. Five years later, another terrorist group bombs Downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. The day of the bombing is April 8, 2006. It is the birthday of the late Chief New Eagle. Days after the terrorist attack in Charlotte, a new superhero is born. His name is Brandon Newman. He becomes a Knight Eagle. About two years later, after the Charlotte terrorist attacks on April 6, 2008, the 3rd SFG (A) is part of the historic raid called the Battle of Shok Valley. The raid is in Afghanistan. During the 7-hour battle, there is another encounter from the Knight Eagle, but it isn't Brandon Newman. At the same time, there is radio chatter of a Native American taking out Al-Qaeda members. However no soldier, ally or foe, could make out the Indian. This person - this thing - fights against the Afghanistan terrorist group at night. During the same time period, a new Iraqi terrorist group, Badiya Aswad Uf''uwan (Desert Black Snake), works with another terrorist group from North Carolina, United States. Desert Black Snake is associated with another terrorist group, Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL). At the same time, a young man named Brandon Newman (Knight Eagle) joins the United States Army. He becomes a Ranger and a Green Beret. He fights terrorism.

A New Breed of Superhero That Fights Terrorism

Knight Eagle

J. Rogers Hollingsworth

This book argues that there is no single best institutional arrangement for organizing modern societies. Therefore, the market should not be considered the ideal and universal arrangement for coordinating economic activity. Instead, the editors argue, the economic institutions of capitalism exhibit a large variety of objectives and tools that complement each other and can not work in isolation. The various chapters of the book ask what logics and functions institutions follow and why they emerge, mature and persist in the forms they do.

The Embeddedness of Institutions

Contemporary Capitalism

Daniel Drache

This work challenges the popular view that globalization threatens the role of the nation-state in determining national policy. It examines the fundamental issue of competitiveness and market power in an increasingly borderless and co-dependent world. Despite this increased threat to the nation-state as an effective manager of the national economy, the authors argue that there are a number of options and alternatives open to governments to protect themselves from the global business cycle.

The Limits of Globalization

States Against Markets

Tibor Iván Berend

Kumiko Haba

France, Germany and Central Europe

The Euro Crisis and European Political Economy

Yves Saillard

Robert Boyer and Yves Sailard's Theorie de la Regulation introduces the Francophone public to one of the most important new currents in social science of the past half-century. This long-awaited translation will help broaden its impact still further. Regulation Theory focuses on the structural features of a given model and has helped enliven the examination of core economic concepts.

The State of the Art

Regulation Theory

Hiroyasu Uemura

Toshio Yamada

Lei Song

This book integrates three levels of political–economic analysis: first a comparative institutional analysis of the varieties of capitalism in both Europe and Asia, second a macroeconomic analysis of industrial structural change and economic dynamics of the national economies in Europe and Asia, and then an encompassing analysis of international production linkages and international financial instability which determine the long-term patterns of regional integration in Europe and Asia. The comparison of the European Union and ASEAN delivers some key conditions for a viable long-term regional economic integration to cope with contrasted capitalisms and growth regimes: either pragmatism in the choice of an exchange rate regime, or a form of fiscal federalism. The reader will also find a genuine analysis of the dynamism of the Chinese economy, a study on institutional changes and de-industrialization in Japan, and the increasing international production linkages among China, Japan, Korea, and ASEAN. It is shown how the enlargement of the European Union and the Euro triggered the diverging competitiveness and macroeconomic performances that led to the crisis of a six decades long economic and political process. This book is the result of long lasting Asian–European collaborative research. It is a milestone in the historical and comparative analysis along the régulation theory that aims at understanding the long-run transformations, renewed diversity and interdependence of capitalisms.

Transformations of Regional Integration in EU and Asia

Evolving Diversity and Interdependence of Capitalisms

Robert Boyer

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