Alan Douglas MacPherson

Professor, Department of Geography, University at Buffalo
Director, Canada-United States Trade Center, University at Buffalo

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• Academic Qualifications
• University Employment
• University Courses Taught
• Ph.D. Supervision: Dissertation Titles
• Graduate Dissertation Committees
• Research Grants and Awards
• Grants Reviewed
• Journal Articles
• Book Chapters, Conference Proceedings, and Other Publications
• Book Reviews
• Technical Reports
• Professional Conference Presentations
• Journal Articles Reviewed
• Editorial Boards
• University and Departmental Service
• Current Research
  

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

1979, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK

University Employment

University Courses Taught

International trade (University at Buffalo)
Survey research methods (University at Buffalo)
Industrial geography (University at Buffalo)

Most Recent Research

1. The outsourcing of industrial design and R&D by U.S. durable goods producers (with Dr. Vida Vanchan).
2. Systems integration in the U.S. commercial aerospace sector (with Dr. David Pritchard and Dr. Trina Hamilton).
3. R&D outsourcing among U.S. biopharmaceutical companies (with Dr. Arup Sen).
4. Prospects for the development of an aerospace supplier cluster in Western New York (with Dr. Ed Arnold).
5. Systems integration in the Canadian aerospace sector (with funding from the Canadian Embassy, Washington, DC).

Ph.D. Supervision: Dissertation Titles

Sen, Jayanti (1997) A locational perspective on the competitiveness of small and medium sized accounting firms: an empirical view from New York State.

Hartung, Valerie (1997) Collaboration and innovation in the commercial geographic information systems (GIS) industry.

Boasson, Vigdis (2001) Location, strategy and business performance of publicly-traded
companies in the US pharmaceuticals industry.

Cullen-Mandikos, Bridget (2001) US foreign direct investment in the London legal market.

Kalafsky, Ronald (2002) The competitive characteristics of US manufacturers in the machine tool industry: a locational perspective.

Pritchard, David (2002) The global decentralization of US commercial aircraft production: implications for US competitiveness.

Ziolkowski, Michael (2004) Analysis of university manufacturing extension initiatives: the case of the Center for Industrial Effectiveness at the University at Buffalo

Will, Renee (2005) Specialization, exports, economic performance and employment: an empirical analysis for US states, regions and industry.

Vanchan, Vida (2006) The competitive characteristics of US firms in the industrial design sector.

Arnold, Edward (2008) The Competitive Advantage of Firms and Their Proximity to Export Finance Centers.

Sen, Arup (2008) Innovation, Collaboration, And Outsourcing” An Exploratory Study in the U.S. Biopharmaceutical Sector.

Vance, Anneliese (2008) Strategic Decisions by Canadian and U.S. Firms in a Post-9/11 Regulatory Environment.

Graduate Dissertation Committees (1988-2009)

Research Grants and Awards

Local export opportunities under the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement. NYS/UUP New Faculty Development Award. $720. 1989

Local export potential under the Canada-US FTA: the case of medical equipment. Western New York Economic Development Corporation. $7000. 1989

Canadian-owned establishments in Western New York: an economic impact analysis. Canadian Embassy, Washington DC (with Dr. J. McConnell). $4500. 1989

Customized export analysis reports for expanding business in the Canadian market. Office of Research and Economic Development, State University of New York , Albany
(with Dr. J. McConnell). $10,000. 1992

Joint-venture possibilities between Canadian and US firms in the medical products industry. Canadian Consulate, Buffalo NY (with Dr. J. McConnell). $5,256. 1992

The impact of the Canada-US FTA on the competitiveness of small manufacturing firms in metropolitan Toronto. Canadian Embassy, Washington DC. $5,500. 1993

Trade adjustment strategies among small manufacturers in Southern Ontario. Canadian Embassy, Washington DC. $5,400. 1994

Producer service linkages among New York State manufacturers. National Science Foundation (SBR-9312630). $90,585. 1994-1996

Cross border visitation patterns across the Niagara River. Canadian Consulate, Buffalo NY. $4,500. 1996-1997

A tracking study of Canadian direct investment in Upstate New York. Canadian Embassy, Washington DC. $3000. 1997

Collaboration and innovation in the North American GIS industry. National Science Foundation dissertation enhancement grant for Valerie Hartung. $7,000. 1997

Trade adjustment among US machine tool companies. National Science Foundation
(BCS-9905479). $97,130. 1999-2001

Evaluating FGDC's NSDI grant program. Federal Geographic Data Committee (with Dr.
David Mark and Dr. Hugh Calkins). $55,000. 2000-2001

The evolution of competitive advantage among Canadian firms in the commercial geographic information systems (GIS) industry. Canadian Embassy, Washington DC. $7,200. 2002-2003

Innovation within the North American service sector. European Research Council, European Union. $37,000. 2002-2003

Asian foreign investment in the United States: a study of technology acquisition and transfer. National Science Foundation (BCS-0137045) (with Dr. J. Poon). $169,979. 2002-2003.

Great Lakes Economic Development (GLED) professional conference grant. Canadian Embassy, Washington DC, $9,000 (with Dr. B. McLean), held at Buffalo, NY, September 19-21, 2002.

Course upgrades to expand Canadian content in the ITC program at the University at Buffalo . Canadian Embassy Faculty Enrichment grant, Canadian Embassy, Washington DC , $3,400, 2004-2005.

A proposal to establish a center for anti-terrorist research at the University at Buffalo . Office of the VP for Research, IRCAF, University at Buffalo , $7000, 2004-2005.

The impact of anti-terrorist measures on the costs of doing business in an international cross-border region: the case of Western New York and Southern Ontario . Canadian Consulate, Buffalo NY , $25,000 (with Dr. J.E. McConnell), 2004-2005.

An annotated bibliography on the impact of border security measures on Canada-US trade. Canadian Embassy, Washington D.C. (with Dr. J. E. McConnell), $6000, 2005.

The economic impact of the US Bioterrorism Act upon the export revenues of Canadian manufacturers of food products. Canadian Embassy, Washington D.C. $10,000, 2005.

Strategic adjustment initiatives of Canadian and US exporters in the post-9/11 environment: the impact of Canada-US border hardening policies on cross-border trade.  Canadian Embassy, Washington D.C., (with Anneliese Vance), $5000, 2006.

Systems integration in the Canadian commercial aerospace industry: implications for Canadian employment, exports and value-added.  Canadian Embassy Faculty Research Grant, Washington, DC, $8000, 2007

Total grant funding: $587,170
Estimated amount attributable to MacPherson: $400,556 (71%)

Grants Proposals Reviewed

Federal Geographic Data Committee

Journal Articles

(1) MacPherson, A. (1988) New product development among small Toronto manufacturers: empirical evidence on the role of technical service linkages. Economic Geography, 64:62-75.

(2) MacPherson, A. (1988) Industrial innovation in the small business sector: evidence from
Toronto. Environment and Planning (A), 20:953-971.

(3) MacPherson, A. (1988) Industrial innovation and technical service linkages. Urban Geography, 9:464-484.

(4) MacPherson, A. (1989) Small manufacturing firms and Canadian industrial development: empirical and theoretical perspectives. Canadian Journal of Regional Science, XIII:2/3:165-185.

(5) MacPherson, A. (1990) Local export opportunities under the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement: the case of Western New York. Labor Law Journal, 41:466-470.

(6) McConnell, J. and MacPherson, A. (1990) Canadian direct investment in Western New York: a preliminary examination of corporate strategy and regional economic impact. Canadian Journal of Regional Science, XIII:2/3:198-204.

(7) MacPherson, A. (1991) Inter-firm information linkages in an economically depressed region. Environment and Planning (A), 23:591-606.

(8) MacPherson, A. (1991) New product development among small industrial firms: a comparative assessment of the role of technical service linkages in Toronto and Buffalo.
Economic Geography, 67:136-146.

(9) Harrington, J. W., MacPherson, A. and Lombard, J. (1991) Interregional trade in producer services: review and synthesis. Growth and Change, 22:75-94.

(10) Lentnek, B., MacPherson, A. and Phillips, D. (1992) Optimal producer service location.
Environment and Planning (A), 24:467-479.

(11) MacPherson, A. and McConnell, J. (1992) Canadian direct investment in the United States: an empirical perspective from Western New York. Environment and Planning (A), 24:121-136.

(12) MacPherson, A. (1992) Innovation, external linkages, and small firm commercial performance. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 4:165-184.

(13) MacPherson, A. (1994) The impact of industrial process innovation among small manufacturing firms. Environment and Planning (A), 26:453-470.

(14) Chandra, B. and MacPherson, A. (1994) The characteristics of high technology firms in a declining manufacturing region. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 6:145-160.

(15) MacPherson, A. (1994) Industrial innovation among small and medium-sized firms.
Growth and Change, 25:145-164.

(16) Lentnek, B., MacPherson, A. and Phillips, D. (1995) A market coverage model for producer services. Papers in Regional Science, 74:1-11.

(17) MacPherson, A. (1995) Product design strategies among small manufacturing firms: implications for export planning and regional economic development. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 7:329-348.

(18) Curtis, A. and MacPherson, A. (1996) The zone definition problem in survey research.
Professional Geographer, 48:310-320.

(19) Dobilas, G. and MacPherson, A. (1997) Environmental regulation and the international sourcing strategies of multinational firms. Growth and Change, 28:7-23.

(20) MacPherson, A. (1997) The role of external technical support in the innovation performance of scientific instruments firms. Technovation, 17:141-151.

(21) MacPherson, A. (1997) The contribution of producer service outsourcing to the innovation performance of New York State manufacturing firms. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 87:52-71.

(22) MacPherson, A. (1997) A comparison of within-firm and external sources of product innovation. Growth and Change, 28:287-306.

(23) MacPherson, A. (1997) The role of external technical inputs in the innovation performance of small manufacturing firms. R&D Management, 27:127-144.

(24) Mackun, P. and MacPherson, A. (1997) The role of geographic location in small firm innovation. Regional Studies, 31:659-668.

(25) MacPherson, A. (1997) Canadian investment in Western New York: a tracking study .Canadian Journal of Regional Science, XX:3:329-340.

(26) Phillips, D., MacPherson, A. and Lentnek, B. (1998) Optimum location for a producer service firm facing uncertain demand. Environment and Planning (A), 30:129-141.

(27) MacPherson, A. (1998) Academic linkages and industrial innovation: evidence from the scientific instruments sector. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 10:129-141.

(28) Sen, J. and MacPherson, A. (1999) Regional patterns of business performance among small and medium-sized accounting firms in New York. Regional Studies, 32:827-838.*

(29) Bagchi-Sen, S. and MacPherson, A. (1999) The competitive characteristics of Canadian and US industrial firms in a cross border region. Growth and Change, 30:3-15.

(30) Hartung, V. and MacPherson, A. (2000) Innovation and collaboration in the geographic information systems industry. R&D Management, 30:225-234.*

(31) MacPherson, A. (2000) The role of international design orientation in the export performance of US machine tool companies. R&D Management, 30:167-176.

(32) Goe, R., Lentnek, B., MacPherson, A. and Phillips, D. (2000) Toward a contact-based theory of producer service location. Environment and Planning (A), 32:131-147.

(33) Will, R. and MacPherson, A. (2001) The impact of NAFTA upon the economy of Western New York. Economic Development Quarterly, 15:340-349.*

(34) Hartung, V. and MacPherson, A. (2001) Location and innovation performance of US firms in the GIS industry. Growth and Change, 32:3-22.*

(35) MacPherson, A. and Hartung, V. (2001) A comparison of the industrial and market characteristics of Canadian and US firms in the commercial geographic information systems (GIS) sector. Canadian Journal of Regional Science, XXIV:2:222-248.*

(36) Kalafsky, R. and MacPherson, A. (2001) Recent trends in the export performance of US machine tool companies. Technovation, 21:709-717.*

(37) Boasson, V. and MacPherson, A. (2001) The impact of location on the financial and innovation performance of US firms in the pharmaceuticals industry. Environment and Planning (A), 23:1431-1444.*

(38) MacPherson, A. (2002) Academic-industry linkages and product innovation: evidence from New York State's medical devices sector. Papers in Regional Science, 81: 121-129.

(39) Kalafsky, R. and MacPherson, A. (2002) Regional differences in the competitive characteristics of US machine tool companies. Growth and Change, 33:269-290.*

(40) Cullen-Mandikos, B. and MacPherson, A. (2002) US foreign direct investment in the London legal market. Professional Geographer, 54:491-499.*

(41) Kalafsky, R. and MacPherson, A. (2002) The competitive characteristics of US manufacturers in the machine tool industry. Small Business Economics 19 (4): 355-369*

(42) MacPherson, A. and Pritchard, D. (2003) The international decentralization of US commercial aircraft production: implications for US employment and trade. Futures 35 (3): 221-238*

(43) Kalafsky, R. and MacPherson, A. (2003) Input/output ranges and performance: an examination of US machine tool producers.  Entrepreneurship & Regional Development: An International Journal. 15 (1): 69-82.*

(44) MacPherson, A. and Kalafsky, R. (2003) The technological Revitalization of a Mature US industry: The Case of Machine Tools. The Industrial Geographer 1 (1): 16-34*

(45) MacPherson, A. (2003) Industrial offsets in the US machine tool industry. Competition and Change, 7:101-112.

(46) MacPherson, A., Mark D., Will, R. and Calkins, H. (2003) The impact of FGDC grants in the creation of metadata clearinghouses. Journal of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association, 16:37-45. *

(47) Pritchard, D. and MacPherson, A. (2004) Industrial subsidies and the politics of world trade: the case of the Boeing 7e7. The Industrial Geographer, 1:57-73. *

(48) MacPherson, A. (2004) The export characteristics of Canadian firms in the commercial geographic information systems (GIS) industry. International Trade Journal, XVIII:1-25.

(49) MacPherson, A. and Boasson, V. (2004) Patent activity and financial performance of publicly traded companies in the US pharmaceutical industry: the role of local business conditions. Economic Development Quarterly, 18:4: 319-330. *

(50) Poon, J. and MacPherson, A. (2005) Technology acquisition processes of Asian investors in the United States . International Business Review, 14:559-575.

(51) Boasson, V., Boasson, E., MacPherson, A. and Shin, K. (2005) The role of geographic conditions in firm value: the case of publicly traded firms in the US pharmaceutical industry. Journal of Business, 46:321-342. *

(52) Kalafsky, R. and MacPherson, A. (2005) The post-1990 rebirth of the US machine tool industry: a temporary recovery? Technovation, 22:431-451. *

(53) Poon, J. and MacPherson, A. (2005) Asian firms' technology acquisition strategies in the United States . Journal of Engineering and Technology Management. 42:321-342.

(54) MacPherson, A. and Ziolkowski, M. (2005) The role of university-based industrial extension services in the business performance of small manufacturing firms: case study evidence from Western New York . Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 17:431-447. *

(55) MacPherson, A., McConnell, J. E., Vance, A. and Vanchan, V. (2006) The impact of US government anti-terrorism policies on Canada-US cross-border commerce: an exploratory study from western New York and southern Ontario.  Professional Geographer, 58(3):266-277. *

(56) Pritchard, D. and MacPherson, A. (2007) Strategic destruction of the Western commercial aircraft sector: implications of systems integration and international risk-sharing business models. The Aeronautical Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society, May 2007, 327-334. *

(57) Suh, J. and MacPherson, A. (2007) The impact of geographical indication on the revitalization of a regional economy: a case study of Boseong green tea. Area, 39:518-527.

(58) MacPherson, A. and McConnell, J.E. (2007) A firm-level study of cross-border trade at a time of heightened security: the case of the Niagara Bi-National region. American Review of Canadian Studies, 28:301-321.

(59) MacPherson, A. and Pritchard, D. (2007) Boeing’s diffusion of commercial aircraft technology to Japan: surrendering the U.S. industry for foreign financial support. Journal of Labor Research, 28:552-566. *

(60) Vanchan, V. and MacPherson, A. (2008) The recent growth performance of US firms in the industrial design sector: an exploratory study. Industry and Innovation, 15:11-17.*

(61) MacPherson, A. (2008) The impact of the U.S. Bioterrorism Act on Canadian exporters of food products to the United States: a firm-level analysis.  International Trade Journal, XXII:1-22.

(62) MacPherson, A. (2008) Producer service linkages and industrial innovation: results of a 12-year tracking study of New York State manufacturers. Growth and Change, 39:1-24.

(63) Vanchan, V. and MacPherson, A. (2008) The competitive characteristics of U.S. firms in the industrial design sector: evidence from a national survey. Competition and Change, 12:262-280. *

(64) MacPherson, A., Vanchan, V. (2008) The outsourcing of industrial design by large US manufacturing companies: an exploratory study.  International Regional Science Review.

(65) MacPherson, A. (2008) Outsourcing industrial design by large manufacturing companies.  In press. Futures.

(66) Sen, A., MacPherson, A. (2009) Outsourcing, external collaboration, and innovation among U.S. firms in the bio-pharmaceutical industry.  The Industrial Geographer, 6, Issue 1.

(67) MacPherson, A (2009) The emergence of a new international competitor in the commercial aircraft sector: The China Syndrome.  Futures, 41(5).

Note: * = papers written with former or current PhD advisees

Book Chapters, Conference Proceedings, and Other Publications

MacPherson, A. (1992) Service to manufacturing linkages and prospects for rural industrialization. In Rural America and the Changing Structure of Manufacturing.
US Department of Agriculture, Conference Proceedings, No. AGES 9319, pp.55-68.

McConnell, J. and MacPherson, A. (1994) The North American Free Trade Agreement:
An assessment of current issues. In Continental Trading Blocs, edited by Richard Gibb and Wieslaw Michalak, John Wiley and Sons, pp.163-185.

MacPherson, A. (1996) Shifts in Canadian direct investment abroad and foreign investment in Canada. In Canada and the Global Economy, edited by John Britton,
McGill-Queens Press, pp.60-83.

McLaren, V. and MacPherson, A. (1997) Introduction to the Special Issue on Industry and the Environment. Growth and Change, 28:3-6.

MacPherson, A. (2000) The role of external technological services in the innovation activities of small manufacturing firms. In Industrial Networks and Proximity, edited by Milford Green and Rob McNaughton, Ashgate Publishing: Aldershot, UK: pp.189-209.

Pritchard, D. and MacPherson, A. (2007) Strategic destruction of the European and North American commercial aircraft industry. Airframer: The Journal of Aircraft Manufacturing, Issue 17 (February): pp.1-8.

Book Reviews

Hilpert, U. (1991) Regional innovation and decentralization. Rural Affairs.
Krugman, P. (1991) Geography and trade. Economic Geography.
Malecki, E. (1992) Technology and economic development. Growth and Change.
Noponen et al. (1993) Trading industries: trading regions. Growth and Change.
Daniels et al. (1993) The geography of services. Economic Geography.
Phelps, N. (1998) Multinationals and European integration. Growth and Change.
Blair, J. & Rees, L. (2000) Approaches to development. International Planning Studies.
Wood, P. (2002) Consultancy and innovation. Local Economy.
Brocker et al. (2003) Innovation clusters. Growth and Change.
Black, G. (2006) The geography of small firm innovation. Annals of Regional Science.

Technical reports prepared for government or public agencies

MacPherson, A. (1987) The local economic impact of the Player's Challenge and Player's International tennis tournaments. Tennis Canada, National Tennis Center,
York University, Toronto.

MacPherson, A. (1987) Employment and output simulations for the City of Toronto's small business incubator. City of Toronto, Planning and Development Department.

MacPherson, A. (1988) The impact of the Canada-US FTA on the City of Toronto's printing and publishing sector. City of Toronto, Planning and Development Department.

MacPherson, A. (1990) Local export opportunities under the Canada-US FTA: the case of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals. Western New York Economic Development Corporation.

McConnell, J. and MacPherson, A. (1991) Canadian direct investment in Western New York: strategic characteristics of Canadian parent organizations and their US subsidiaries.
Canadian Embassy, Washington DC.

McConnell, J. and MacPherson, A. (1992) A guide for strategic alliances between manufacturers from Canada and Upstate New York in the medical equipment and pharmaceuticals industries. Canadian Consulate, Buffalo NY.

McConnell, J., Mariano, J. and MacPherson, A. (1992) Customized export analysis reports for Western New York manufacturers of health-care products. State University of New York, Albany NY.

Dobilas, G. and MacPherson, A. (1992) A cluster analysis of the characteristics and activities of recreational visitors to Canada's Thousand Islands National Park. Environment Canada.

MacPherson, A. (1994) The trade adjustment initiatives of small Toronto manufacturers under the Canada-US FTA. Canadian Embassy, Washington, DC.

MacPherson, A. (1997) Crossborder visitation patterns across the Niagara River: a survey of origins, destinations, trip expenditures, and future trends. Canadian Consulate, Buffalo NY.

MacPherson, A. (1998) Canadian direct investment in Upstate New York: a tracking study. Canadian Embassy, Washington, DC.

MacPherson, A., Mark, D. and Calkins, H. (2001) An evaluation of FGDC's NSDI grants
Program. Federal Geographic Data Committee, Washington, DC.

MacPherson, A. (2003) The export characteristics of Canadian firms in the commercial geographic information systems (GIS) industry. Canadian Embassy, Washington, DC .

MacPherson, A. and McConnell, J. (2005) The economic impacts of US government antiterrorism policies and regulations on cross-border commerce between southern Ontario and Western New York . Canadian Consulate, Buffalo, NY .

Vance, A., McConnell, J. and MacPherson, A. (2005) An annotated bibliography on the economic effects of security-related shipment delays along the Canada-United States border. Canadian Embassy, Washington, D.C.

MacPherson, A. (2005) The impact of the US Bioterrorism Act (BTA) upon Canadian exporters of food products to the United States : a statistical analysis of proprietary Canadian government survey data. Canadian Embassy, Washington, D.C.

MacPherson, A. (2009) Systems integration in the Canadian commercial aerospace industry: implications for Canadian employment, exports, and value-added.  Canadian Embassy, Washington, D.C.

Professional Conference Presentations (1987-2009)

Journal Articles Reviewed (1987-2009)

Urban Geography (6), Economic Geography (7), Annals of American Geographers (4), Growth and Change (27), Canadian Geographer (8), Canadian Journal of Regional Science (4), Papers in Regional Science (3), Environment and Planning A (4), R&D Management (19), Great Lakes Geographer (1), Southeastern Geographer (1), Regional Studies (2), Geographical Analysis (1), International Regional Science Review (1), Entrepreneurship and Regional Development (23), Law and Policy (1), Professional Geographer (2), Asia-Pacific Viewpoint (1): Total = 113

Editorial Boards

Entrepreneurship and Regional Development

University and Departmental Service

UB2020 Extreme Events, post-retreat steering committee