Economics and local production systems
Local Production Systems (LPS) refers to characteristic individual styles of production, which vary considerably throughout Europe and associated countries. While definitions are equally variable, LPS are important in European regional development. The EU-funded FOLPSEC (Functioning of the local production systems in the conditions of economic crisis (comparative analysis and benchmarking for the EU and beyond)) project studied the economics of the topic. Researchers aimed to deepen theoretical understanding of LPS and to encourage practical implementation, thereby avoiding future economic crises. The goals were accomplished via a knowledge exchange programme. Team members established a mobility initiative for researchers at all experience levels. Purposes included developing institutional research connections, and fostering knowledge exchange via a stimulating research environment. The project's 111 researchers completed a total of nearly 239.27 person-months of exchanges, or 79.49 % of the project's target. Collective research activities included 11 meetings, 61 study visits, and 24 joint training activities. The work produced three monographs, two anthologies of papers, 44 peer-reviewed articles published in periodicals in Slovakia, Russia, Ukraine, Germany and Poland, and two PhD theses. The team conducted numerous dissemination activities, including academic contribution to the study field, and a series of articles in the local press. Partners also hosted relevant information, including photographs and videos, on their websites. FOLPSEC yielded a deeper understanding of the economics of LPS, which will assist Europe's regional economic development.
Keywords
Local Production Systems, LPS, regional, development, economics, FOLPSEC
