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Clarke, L and Wall, C (2000) Craft versus industry: the division of labour in European housing construction. Construction Management and Economics, 18(06), 689-98.
Druker, J and Croucher, R (2000) National collective bargaining and employment flexibility in the European building and civil engineering industries. Construction Management and Economics, 18(06), 699-709.
Guffond, J-L and Leconte, G (2000) Developing construction logistics management: the French experience. Construction Management and Economics, 18(06), 679-87.
Henry, E (2000) Quality management standardization in the French construction industry: singularities and internationalization prospects. Construction Management and Economics, 18(06), 667-77.
Huemer, L and Östergren, K (2000) Strategic change and organizational learning in two 'Swedish' construction firms. Construction Management and Economics, 18(06), 635-42.
Janssen, J (2000) The European construction industry�s competitiveness: a construct of the European Commission. Construction Management and Economics, 18(06), 711-20.
- Type: Journal Article
- Keywords: competitiveness; disparities; European Commission; productivity
- ISBN/ISSN: 0144-6193
- URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2000.10800483
- Abstract:
The ’European construction industry’ is a fiction that tends to obscure its heterogeneous character and to mar studies and policies of the European Commission aimed at improving the internal and external ’competitiveness’ of the sector. In order to assess the process of integration in Europe under the impact of its own dynamics as well as Union policies, this paper looks at the dynamics of the sector from three different aspects: as investment, production and labour process. It shows, in particular, the persistent regional and social disparities dividing the industry into separate entities. Political attention tends to focus on a small number of construction companies competing for a few projects which represent the European dimension. Yet, these companies still rely on their respective national bases and local labour from the place where construction is carried out. Persistent divisions between the states are also reflected in the low level of transnational organization of the construction industry. The policy of the European Commission generally ignores these divisions and attempts to establish principles intended to make a whole sector more ’competitive’, while its component parts, operating at hugely different levels of productivity, do not even meet on the same market. This paper argues that, instead of trying in vain to introduce a ’knock-out’ system of competition in the EU Member States, a targeted approach might help raise productivity in lagging regions and thus improve the basis of competitiveness on global markets.
Mahmoud-Jouini, S B (2000) Innovative supply-based strategies in the construction industry. Construction Management and Economics, 18(06), 643-50.
Micelli, E (2000) Mobilizing the skills of specialist firms to reduce costs and enhance performance in the European construction industry: two case studies. Construction Management and Economics, 18(06), 651-6.
Proverbs, D G and Holt, G D (2000) A theoretical model for optimum project (time) performance based on European best practice. Construction Management and Economics, 18(06), 657-65.