Current Industry Structure, Location, Trends, and Areas
Current Industry Structure
Key characteristics of the current industry structure:
- Reduced Average Size: The average size of firms and industries is reduced, with a prevalence of small or medium-sized companies.
- Insufficient Research and Innovation: Research and innovation efforts are insufficient.
- Inadequate and Dependent Technology Creation: The creation of technology is inadequate and dependent on external sources.
Current Industry Location
Current location factors:
- Proximity to important natural resources is losing importance.
- Proximity to the market is gaining importance.
- The availability of good transportation and communication systems maintains its relevance.
- Labor remains a key factor.
Principal factors:
- Access to innovation and information.
- Territory (competitive advantages based on location).
Current Trends: Diffusion and Concentration
Diffusion of Industry to Peripheral Areas
Caused by:
- Problems presented by large industrial concentrations (rising ground, equipment and infrastructure costs, labor conflicts, etc.).
- Technological improvements and transportation.
- The development of endogenous industrialization.
The sectors most affected by devolution are mature sectors with low demand for technology, consumer goods, and labor resources.
Industrial Concentration in Central Areas
Central areas maintain and attract new technology sectors, offices, and management functions. This results in a complex situation with both industrial centers and peripheries.
Current Industrial Areas in Spain
In Spain, there is an uneven spatial distribution of industry, causing regional imbalances in population distribution, wealth, infrastructure, equipment, and political influence. Industry is promoted to improve regional development.
Industrially Developed Areas
Madrid and Barcelona: Their recent evolution is marked by the reconversion of mature industrial sectors and a revitalization due to the introduction of high-technology sectors and the headquarters of large national and multinational companies. This fosters a growing tertiary sector, visible in the appearance of industrial and business parks.
Areas and Industrial Hubs in Expansion
These areas are receiving industrial locations as a result of industry trends or the development of endogenous industrialization. Several types exist:
- Metropolitan Crowns: In outlying urban areas that have declined and are in the process of replanting, they are recipients of industries. In some cases, this involves traditional industries relocated from metropolitan core areas, seeking to reduce costs and do business. These industries are located in industrial estates. In other cases, the crowns attract innovative companies that are installed in technology parks.
- Peri-urban Fringes: In the transition zone between urban and rural areas, there are small, thinly capitalized industries in need of unskilled and flexible labor. They engage in traditional production jobs, outsourcing, or processing surrounding resources. Polygons are in attached vessels.
- Industrial Development Axes: Located along major thoroughfares. At the national level, the main axes are the Ebro Valley and the Mediterranean. At the regional and district level, some axes were developed, such as the network environment that extends toward Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, and inland areas. These axes develop along major roads (e.g., the Tordesillas-Valladolid-Palencia highway).
- Rural Areas: Small industries, thinly capitalized and in need of unskilled, cheap, and flexible labor. The most frequent cases are small workshops, relocated urban enterprises, or those promoted by locals. Innovative entrepreneurs also emerge in these areas.