Industries in Europe. Competition, trends and policy issues

Book abstract:

This book offers a detailed case-by-case analysis of key industries in Europe, examining both their structure and behaviour. Although it begins by pointing out the difficulties of defining what constitutes industry in the first place, those industries actually chosen for discussion are intended to illustrate the broad range in operation throughout Europe, with the effect that the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors all feature. Science-based industries, metals, and those from both the public and private sectors are also represented, while the various contributors endeavour to take into account the problem of whether the separate industries take a more European/global view of their economic roles, or remain more restricted within each individual state.

Over fourteen chapters, the book consists of work on the following areas: trends and policy issues, agriculture, energy, food processing, brewing, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, metals, motor vehicles, air transport, financial services, business services, defence industries and tourism. Some of these, in particular tourism and biotechnology, as editor Peter Johnson points out, are difficult to assess because they involve so many different components and variables.

The book is aimed at academics within the field of European industry.