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THE JANUS-FACED ECONOMY: HONG KONG FIRMS AS INTERMEDIARIES BETWEEN GLOBAL CUSTOMERS AND LOCAL PRODUCERS IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY
Article first published online: 6 MAR 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9663.2009.00531.x
© 2009 by the Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG
Issue
Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie
Volume 100, Issue 2, pages 224–235, April 2009
Additional Information
How to Cite
MEYER, S., SCHILLER, D. and DIEZ, J. R. (2009), THE JANUS-FACED ECONOMY: HONG KONG FIRMS AS INTERMEDIARIES BETWEEN GLOBAL CUSTOMERS AND LOCAL PRODUCERS IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY. Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie, 100: 224–235. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9663.2009.00531.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 6 MAR 2009
- Article first published online: 6 MAR 2009
- Received: April 2008; revised September 2008
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Institutions;
- governance;
- customer-producer relations;
- proximity;
- Hong Kong;
- electronics industry
ABSTRACT
The influence of the institutional framework on governance modes is well covered in economic geography literature but lacks empirical evidence. The main focus of this work is to explain the governance of customer and producer relations of Hong Kong-based electronics firms by institutional factors. Hong Kong firms are able to deal simultaneously with both the Chinese transitional setting and global markets, thus leading them to be described as Janus-faced. Producer relations with the Pearl River Delta are mainly organised in hierarchical ways, whereas globally spread customers govern their relations with Hong Kong firms via the market. Despite the differences of the institutional setting, the advantages of spatial concentration of producers in proximity to Hong Kong have been proven.