Globalization of the Spanish Pharmaceutical Market: A Sociological Analysis
ABSTRACT
Key changes in the regulative framework of the Spanish pharmaceutical industry, initiated from the entry of Spain in the European Union, crucially affected the viability of the different firm strategies in the industry. Those changes modified the structure of relations among industry actors and the market (defined by firms’ productions.) The study of relational, cultural and power aspects underlying such transformations allows considering the globalization process of the Spanish pharmaceutical industry. The investigation analyzes the changes on both the key determinant for firm competitiveness in the industry and the qualities-prices array defining the market, and shows that globalization occurs when those two aspects become dependent on processes and strategies of international scope.