Reconceptualising Manufacturing—Service Linkages: A Realist Approach

Abstract

The study of manufacturing—service linkages emerged as an important research theme in economic geography during the 1980s. However, it is arguably becoming marginalised. Some recent contributions have begun to criticise the approach, calling instead for the development of a more ambitious research agenda which illuminates the nature and role of all services, whether they are producer or consumer oriented, and supplied to manufacturers, to other service organisations, or to the general public. In this paper I contend that the analysis of manufacturing—service linkages remains a valid focus of study, but argue that future research needs to be accompanied by a philosophical change. A realist conceptual framework for the analysis of manufacturing—service linkages is developed which, it is suggested, improves significantly on the positivist and Marxist approaches hitherto employed. I conclude with an assessment of the main strengths and weaknesses of the realist approach and a brief consideration of its wider potential for research involving services.