Connections Between Basic Infrastructure and Industrial Commons in Hungary

Abstract

Pisano and Shih have written about the „industrial commons” for the first time in 2012. It means a critical mass of buyers, suppliers, competitors, infrastructure, educated workforce and universities and other educational institutions in a geographical area. Industrial commons arise from a self-strengthening cycle, whereby companies want to be as close to their buyers as possible, which pulls along their supplier network. Their theory was based on their own – American – experience but world’s economy is different. For example in East-Central Europe the whole economical system was lagged behind the market and they tried to do their best to keep up. The question lies ahead: is there any possibility to change the direction and make the „industrial commons” for themselves? The most spectacular element of this system is the basic infrastructure. Having public roads, railways or river ways could make a city – or even a region – rich and wealthy but lacking such elements of infrastructure could make them poor. In my presentation I would like to point out that governments can go upside down within the „industrial commons” and decide where to invest first.