The  actor-network model of economic networks in a geo-economic context: The conceptual considerations

Anna  Ujwary-Gil; Michele  Lo Re; Fabrizio  Parente

doi:10.23762/FSO_VOL10_NO1_1

Published : 2022-03-30

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2022)

The actor-network model of economic networks in a geo-economic context: The conceptual considerations

Anna Ujwary-Gil

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5114-7366

Michele Lo Re

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4834-469X

Fabrizio Parente

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5113-3012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23762/FSO_VOL10_NO1_1

Abstract

Contemporary economic networks operate in a turbulent geo-economic context in which the external environment determines the formation or disintegration of such networks. The article focuses on economic networks through the prism of network analysis, actor-network theory, and network theory. As a consequence, the authors attempted to develop an actor-network model, taking into account the geo-economic context, social and technical actors, their roles and positions in the economic network, and network measures (centrality, knowledge/resource/task diversity, and redundancy). Due to the conceptual nature of the article, a less formalised, narrative literature review was used, which allowed for the free selection of literature and its interpretation in the context of the research question posed. As a result, a conceptual actor-network model for economic networks was created, understood as a framework for the analysis of the network of relations, interactions, and interdependencies occurring between the socio-technical actors of the economic networks through the prism of the allocation and distribution of information, knowledge, resources, and tasks. The actor-network model is the starting point for further, more advanced research, as well as the operationalisation and validation of the model, which would contribute to the actor-network theory and network theory. In this conceptual form, the presented actor-network model seems to be universal, and its application is possible whenever we can identify actors and the relationships between them. Its implementation in the study of economic networks in any sector is conditioned by the definition of social and technical actors; their relations, roles, and positions in the network affecting the efficiency of the network as a whole.

Keywords:

actor-network model, economic networks, network efficiency, actor-network theory, network theory, geo-economic context

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Ujwary-Gil, A. ., Lo Re, M. ., & Parente, F. . (2022). The actor-network model of economic networks in a geo-economic context: The conceptual considerations. Forum Scientiae Oeconomia, 10(1), 10–28. https://doi.org/10.23762/FSO_VOL10_NO1_1

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Anna Ujwary-Gil

ujwary@inepan.waw.pl
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5114-7366

Affiliation:

Institute of Economics, Polish Academy of Sciences Poland

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Anna Ujwary-Gil, PhD., is a professor at the Institute of Economics, Polish Academy of Sciences. She is the founder and president of the Cognitione Foundation for the Dissemination of Knowledge and Science. Her research interests include social (organisational) network analysis, knowledge management, intellectual capital, resource-based views, and dynamic approaches to organisation and management. She has published research in Library

& Information Science Research, Electronic Markets, Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, and Economics & Sociology.

Michele Lo Re

mlore@luiss.it
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4834-469X

Affiliation:

LUISS Guido Carli University Italy

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Michele Lo Re, PhD., is a professor in Industrial Economics at LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome. Since 2009 he has been working for the Industrial and Financial Research Group (GRIF) – “Fabio Gobbo” (LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome) and acting as a freelance consultant to public institutions, trade associations and companies. His research and consultancy activities focus on better regulation, actor-network analysis, the digital economy, industrial policy, competition policy, business strategy & competitiveness and technology-intensive industries.

Fabrizio Parente

fabrizio.parente86@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5113-3012

Affiliation:

Sapienza – University of Rome Italy

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Fabrizio Parente, Master of Medicine with a thesis in Neurosciences, continues his study of the physiology of the brain by undertaking PhD studies in Biophysics at Sapienza – University of Rome. At this time, he is deepening his study of network theory, multivariate statistical analysis and agent-based modelling (ABM) in collaboration with the University Medical Centre Utrecht, Netherlands. In recent years, he has begun to apply knowledge in complex network analysis in the field of economics in collaboration with LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome.