Este artículo examina la relación entre la transformación digital y los modelos de negocio sostenibles (MNS) en las pequeñas y me-dianas empresas (pymes) de Argentina, a partir de la experiencia de 46 pymes de Córdoba (Argentina) que participaron en dos programas públicos de apoyo a la Industria 4.0 (2020–2023). Se adopta un enfoque cualitativo de estudio de casos múltiples, basado en el análisis documental de los Proyectos de Adopción Tecnológica (PAT) desarrollados por equipos universitarios interdisciplinarios. El análisis aplica un Business Model Canvas adaptado para clasificar las tecnologías, los componentes afectados y las dimensiones de la sostenibilidad. Los resultados revelan que, si bien la motivación principal de las pymes fue económica, las transformaciones propuestas también generaron impactos socia-les y ambientales, especialmente en las actividades clave, el uso de recursos y las estructuras de costos. A partir de estos hallazgos, el artículo ofrece recomendaciones de política pública orientadas a fortalecer la sostenibilidad a través de la digitalización.
This paper contributes to the expanding literature on regional resilience by comparing two southern European regions. Through an analysis of fluctuations in industrial value added and industrial employment in Catalonia and Emilia-Romagna, we assess the extent to which their industrial sectors were similarly affected by the major economic crises of the past fifty years—from the 1973 oil shock to the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we examine the capacity of each region’s industrial sector to recover following these shocks. Across the six major crises experienced by Western economies, our findings reveal notable regional differences in resistance, depending on whether value added or employment is used as the primary indicator. We also find that, since the early 2000s, Emilia-Romagna has consistently exhibited stronger recovery performance from shock-induced losses than Catalonia, reversing the pattern observed during the 1980s and 1990s. We also offer several hypotheses to account for this divergent trajectory in industrial resilience.
The paper, that aims to mix the long-term vision of the economic historians with the territorial approach and theoretical framework of evolutionary economic geography, presents an exploratory longitudinal in-depth case study of an old industrial city in the Basque region of Spain, trying to analyze its resilience towards the shocks and disturbances experienced over time, the development paths followed and the role of agency and actors in the whole process. The paper identifies the main shocks and disturbances experienced by the city since the late 18th century, sets up the main development paths and, building on a typology of resilience mechanisms and actors and agency involved, attempts to measure its relative importance across the different paths. Like in other old industrial cities of Europe, resilience and path development are explained by a combination of economic structure, institutions and agency.
Airbus may be the most successful example of organizational resilience in the world. This article examines the factors that have contributed to the European company’s success in the commercial aviation sector by analyzing the resilience process of the aircraft manufacturers that became part of the consortium, and Airbus’s subsequent evolution. The period examined stretches from the end of the Second World War to the present day. The first section of the article provides historical context by discussing the background of the European aircraft industry and the difficulty it had competing with the increasingly powerful industry of the United States in the post-war period. The rest of the article adopts an economic perspective based on the theory of organizational resilience. After analyzing Airbus’s success in the commercial aviation sector, it briefly compares the European manufacturer’s revenue from the defense sector to that of its main rival.
This paper addresses the question of how the Italian agri-food sector has developed original strategies of resilience in the face of multiple challenges posed by globalization, market crises, and evolving consumption patterns. Drawing on the concept of creative resilience - a form of resilience that combines adaptability and innovation with a strong symbolic dimension - the essay reflects on the distinctive ability of certain typical Italian products to reinvent themselves without severing ties with tradition. Through a critical reading of the literature on Made in Italy, the essay illustrates how the reputation of typical products is built on a blend of material and immaterial values, historical narratives, and creative marketing strategies. The construction of the myth of authenticity and tradition becomes a key asset for companies, especially in a globalized market marked by homogenized consumption. Through a multidisciplinary approach that connects economic history, cultural studies, and marketing theory, the study investigates the historical roots and contemporary trajectories of three emblematic products: Parmigiano Reggiano, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, and Vermouth. Despite their differences in origin and development, these products display distinct forms of resilience, all characterized by their ability to combine quality, storytelling, and territorial rootedness. Moreover, the paper highlights the crucial role played by institutions (consortia, certifications, public policies) in making this process both possible and visible. In conclusion, it proposes a multidimensional and active vision of agri-food resilience, conceived as a cultural practice capable of generating economic, social, and symbolic value.
