Contenu du sommaire : Varia

Recent trajectories of the labour market in the Brazilian metropolises : changes and differences This article analyzes the evolution of the labor market in the metropolitan regions of Brazil over the period 1995-2005. The employed population is characterized by variables relating to working conditions and belonging to different sectors of activity. The study is based on joint analysis of tables - STATIS method. It allows characterizing the evolution of trajectories of Brazilian metropolitan regions. The results highlight the different trajectories of metropolitan areas in the decade beyond the usual divide between North-Northeast and South-Southeast. Indeed, the trajectories of certain metropolitan areas deemed less developed show a significant improvement in the main indicators used, however, that those of metropolitan areas among the most developed are the opposite. This foreshadows a relative reduction of regional inequalities or even a questioning of some Brazilian metropolitan hierarchies.

“Participation”, social support and housing microcredit for slum eradication in Morocco
Moroccan policies against sub-standard housing give priority to the eradication of shantytowns. News schemes mix different actors and are based on “participatory approaches”. In rehousing projects, participatory combines social support (expected to help the implication of slum dwellers in the elaboration of rehousing projects) and microcredit (expected to help their financial contribution). Based on empirical investigations, this paper shows the strengths and the weaknesses of these innovations. The absence of a clear definition of the responsibilities of the actors and the diverging points of view regarding “social support” and participatory tend to slow down, even to block, the implementation of such schemes. In fact, social support mainly aims to cover part of the costs from the households (market participation). In terms of microcredit, whilst demand is strong, the offer remains weak and focused on the least vulnerable clients and limited to short term loans. But it would not be desirable to encourage microcredit associations to finance the most destitute : a portion of clients are already on the brink of overindebtedness, and to target the poorest populations would only aggravate the problem.

Territorial construction and local development : The example of Aleppo in Syria This article explores the territorial dynamics in the city of Aleppo -Syria- as a way to reveal the factors of its success. Our analysis depends on a methodology that interprets the results of an empirical work with the help of a theoretical framework based on the concepts of both the localized productive system and the constructed territory. With such a methodology, this article analyzes the historical process of territorial construction and the resulting dynamics of local socio-economic development. This analysis discloses the crucial factors of local development : the handicraft inheritance updated by the local actors, the workforce skills, the regulation induced by the local socio-culture... and the international openness. As a conclusion, this article questions the future of this territory that, under the effect of globalization, has confronted major challenges that oblige the local actors to reconsider the source of their competitiveness.

Geography of Modular Auto Industry : the French Suppliers in Eastern Europe In this paper, we try to understand the new spatial division of labour in the automobile supply industry by considering the localization strategies of French first tier suppliers in European Eastern Countries. The analytical hypothesis is : the development of modular production creates the opportunities to deeply transform the geography of supply chains because modularity creates new opportunities but also new proximity constraints. In a first part, we propose a theoretical typology of locations (with a distinction between production and research units) of first tier suppliers. Then, we deduce which establishments we could find in Eastern Europe Countries. In the second part of the paper, we test our deduction by two ways. First, a statistical analysis of trade exchange of auto parts and components. Second, we make a case study of the French supplier Faurecia. Our results tend to confirm the theoretical analysis. In conclusion, we propose some ways to improve this first work.

Is there a soft budget constraint for the French local governments ?

Fiscal relief of local governments by the central authorities has become a subject of major concern in the political economy of multi-level governments. Generally studied in federations, fiscally irresponsible behaviors are endogenous to the system of financial relations amongst levels of government. This system may allow local governments to strategically constrain the central government to bail them out. The present contribution provides a case study of a unitary but decentralized state, namely France. It shows that the usual debt channel of the soft budget constraint is not relevant here. However, the ill designed system of local taxation has been resulting over the years in an increasing burden on local taxpayers which is partially relieved by the central government. Local governments may strategically anticipate such relieves with “first mover” increases in their tax pressure.

An example in urban transport demand estimation In order to better understand tomorrow's cities, we need to work on urban transport demand estimation. In this paper, we aim at defining an urban mobility demand model built on the main structural variables currently identified in the literature. By applying it to three Chinese cities, we obtain different evolution scenarios that underline the dominance of the two following variables : average user cost for a trip (in individual cars or public transport) and urban density. Surprisingly enough, the demand estimation functions appear to be independant from the country group variable, though this may be explained by the limited data available. Nevertheless, this application to the Chinese environnement gives us a first empirical result to work on.

Modal share and intermodality. Structural changes of the economy Modal shift from road to other modes is a major challenge for European transport policy in respect to sustainable development. The share of road haulage has been increasing despite strong political action. The explanation of this trend can be sought in the organization of production process which determines the demand for transport. The industrial fabric and the modes of production in post-fordist economies generate fragmented flows that foster road haulage. The problem of modal disequilibrium originates in the very structure of economy. The results of two shipper surveys « Chargeurs 1988 » and « ECHO 2004 » carried out in France at a national level provide useful data for our research.

Spatial dynamics of French agriculture In this paper, we analyse the dynamics of location within the French agriculture from 1990 to 2006. This analysis is applied to the main agricultural sectors at the department level. We show that spatial dynamics are mainly related to region and not to agricultural sectors. We also show that agglomeration effects may exist between departments, and led to form clusters. The “Grand Ouest” French region is the unique area which benefits from a local positive dynamic for several sectors of production.