This paper presents some results derived from a wider National Institute study of labour productivity differentials in non-service activities in the British, American and German economies, to be published as a NIESR Occasional Paper during the autumn 1982. For the most part the present paper focuses on the international labour productivity differentials which emerge at the major sector level—for agriculture, extractive industries, manufacturing, construction, public utilities and transport. The complete study will also consider productivity differentials for component activities in these sectors and seek some explanation of contrasts in international industrial performance in terms of such factors as capital intensity, market size, rates of growth, labour force quality etc.

The estimation of economic contributions, activity, and impacts from industries, businesses, and events is a cornerstone of the regional economic development field, yet the approaches used to conduct such studies are rarely discussed in detail. Although Impact Analysis for Planning (IMPLAN) input-output economic modeling software and other regional models have become the standard, many industries, such as golf, are not represented in baseline data and therefore the model must be customized to facilitate regional analysis of these specific sectors. Using primary data collection techniques of both golf course operators and golfers in Colorado, both the backward linkages of the golf course industry and the stemming-from effects of the golf-related tourism expenditures were estimated and incorporated into the IMPLAN regional input-output modeling system. The customized IMPLAN model found the contribution of the golf industry's economic activity from both golf course operations and tourist expenditures to be $1.6 billion.

ALDERMAN N. and DAVIES S. (1990) Modelling regional patterns of innovation diffusion in the UK metalworking industries, Reg. Studies 24, 513-528. In this paper Davies' economic model of innovation diffusion is tested at the regional level using survey data on the adoption of a number of key manufacturing technologies based on microelectronics or new matcrials within nine industries engaged primarily in metalworking activities. The results demonstrate that there are regional variations in the rates of diffusion along one or other of the two types of trajectory derived from the model and that these have been slower in some peripheral regions than elsewhere. These variations may be partly, but by no means entirely, accounted for by regional differences in industrial structure and establishment size distributions. It is suggested, however, that as diffusion approaches saturation level regional convergence will be observed. Metalworking industriesTechnology Diffusion Curve fitting Regional variation ALDERMAN N. et DAVIES S . (1990) La modilisation de la distribution rtgionale de la diffusion de I'innovation dans la mttallurgie au Royaume-Uni, Reg. Studies 24, 513-528. Cet article a pour but une ivaluation sur le plan regional du modtle iconomique de la diffusion de l'innovation d'aprcs Davies B partir des donntes provenant d'une enqutte sur l'utilisation d'un nombre de technologies industrielles cli likes i la micro-electronique ou i de nouveaux mattriaux au sein des industries dont I'activiti principale c'est le travail des mttaux. Les resultats laissent voir des variations rigionales des taux de diffusion en fonction de I'un ou I'autre des deux genres de trajectoires que fournit le modtle, et ceux-li ont i t i moins rapides dans quelques zones ptriphtriques qu'ailleurs. I1 se peut que de telles variations s'expliquent en partie par les diffirences de la structure industrielle et de la taille des etablissements. Nianmoins on suggtre qu'au fur et i mesure que la diffusion arrive B saturation on pourra remarquer une certaine convergence rigionale. Mitallurgie Technologie Diffusion Ajustement statistique Variation rtgionale

No abstract

No abstract