nep-ppm New Economics Papers
on Project, Program and Portfolio Management
Issue of 2009‒01‒24
three papers chosen by
Arvi Kuura
Parnu College - Tartu University

  1. Industrial Clusters and the Knowledge Based Economy : from open to distributed structures ? By Frédéric Rychen; Jean-Benoît Zimmermann
  2. New renewable electricity capacity under uncertainty: The potential in Norway By Fleten, Stein-Erik; Ringen, Geir
  3. Evaluation of Second National Fadama Development Project in Nigeria: A Rapid Policy Appraisal By Nwachukwu, Ifeanyi/ N; Agwu, Nnanna/M; Ezeh, Chima/I; Mbanasor, Jude/A; Onyenweaku, Chris/O; Kamalu , Chinedu/E

  1. By: Frédéric Rychen (LEST - Laboratoire d'économie et de sociologie du travail - CNRS : UMR6123 - Université de Provence - Aix-Marseille I - Université de la Méditerranée - Aix-Marseille II, IDEP - Institut d'Économie Publique - GREQAM); Jean-Benoît Zimmermann (GREQAM - Groupement de Recherche en Économie Quantitative d'Aix-Marseille - Université de la Méditerranée - Aix-Marseille II - Université Paul Cézanne - Aix-Marseille III - Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales - CNRS : UMR6579)
    Abstract: During the recent years, clusters have been at the heart of a vast literature supposed to bring new arguments and perspectives to local development preoccupations. Two complementary factors are stressing for firms and territories the importance of governing the interactions of industrial actors: the globalisation of the economy and the technology and the emergence of a knowledge based economy. In local systems, agents are mostly connected with agents situated in their spatial proximity, while these local networks, as open systems, benefit from the long distance connections that some of their members are able to activate. Co-location of actors in a geographical proximity by itself is not a sufficient condition for co-ordination but can contribute to its efficiency, provided the existence of other shared dimensions among agents: organic level, representations, projects, ... As far as efficiency and performances of "classical" clusters are not only the result of the intensity and quality of internal but also external interactions and coordination, into which extent can we still consider the relevance of interaction structures restricted to bounded geographical areas? In this paper we turn our attention to the way industrial actors take into account the question of the local-global articulation for the strategic building of their own ego-network, that is the set of links they may build in order to achieve efficient interactions with partners and competitors. Thus interfaces between local and global relationships are a key feature that can be achieved through different approaches. To this aim we introduce the two concepts of knowledge gatekeeper and temporary proximity that appear as providing alternative approaches of actors partnering, likely to provide a better flexibility in the local-global trade-off. We will then present the basic form of the ego-networks on which the individual firm is able to build her relational neighbourhood. This raises the question of the combination of individual ego-networks into a consistent networked structure into which local networks are articulated by the way of local-global interfaces. On this basis we present a typology of the basic new forms of clustering where time and space can be alternatively and complementarily combined in order to achieve more flexibility and costs reduction of the localisation game.
    Keywords: Industry ; territory ; globalisation ; knowledge based economy ; local-global ; knowledge gatekeeper ; temporary proximity ; clusters ; network ; structure
    Date: 2009–01–15
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-00353425_v1&r=ppm
  2. By: Fleten, Stein-Erik; Ringen, Geir
    Abstract: Uncertainty affecting project values makes investors hesitate to build new capacity unless profitability is significant. When analysing the potential for new renewable power system capacity in a region, it is therefore necessary to properly capture both uncertainty effects and decision-making behaviour of investors. Important stochastic factors typically include wholesale electricity prices and certificate prices. We calculate trigger levels for the sum of these factors, and compare these with the current long-term contract prices to estimate the potential for new renewable electricity capacity. We take into account the cost and technical potential of small hydro and wind in Norway, the number of prenotifications, concession applications and grants, and the capacity targets of subsidising governmental bodies. With an electricity certificate policy target of 41 TWh per year of new renewables for Sweden and Norway combined until 2016, we estimate that 12 TWh wind power and 6.2 TWh hydropower will be built in Norway. Due to the option value of waiting, most of this capacity will come after 2010.
    Keywords: Finance; Hydroelectric power generation; Power system planning; Stochastic processes; Uncertainty; Wind energy
    JEL: Q28 O13 Q42 G13 Q2
    Date: 2009–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:12857&r=ppm
  3. By: Nwachukwu, Ifeanyi/ N; Agwu, Nnanna/M; Ezeh, Chima/I; Mbanasor, Jude/A; Onyenweaku, Chris/O; Kamalu , Chinedu/E
    Abstract: The Second National Fadama Development Project was borne out of the need to ensure all year round agricultural production using available Fadama resources in Nigeria and also a follow – up to Fadama 1 that was adjudged successful. Its approach was Community Driven Development (CDD) with emphasis on social inclusiveness and empowerment of the rural people to take charge of their development agenda. The Project focused on increasing sustainably the incomes of Fadama Users via empowerment in terms of capacity building, advisory services, acquisition of productive assets and rural infrastructure development. As at mid – term, beneficiaries have increased their income by about 25%. So far, an estimated 2.3 million Fadama households have benefited from the expansion in incomes and wealth (asset) derived from the previously unavailable services provided by the project. The project had created about 126, 000 permanent jobs and an additional savings of more than $40.8 million have been realized by the majority of the participating states.
    Keywords: Fadama; Agricultural production; food security; poverty alleviation
    JEL: A30 I31
    Date: 2008–11–21
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:12914&r=ppm

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