Do Clusters Make a Difference? Defining and Assessing their Economic Performance

Spencer G. M., Vinodrai T., Gertler M. S. and Wolfe D. A. Do clusters make a difference? Defining and assessing their economic performance, Regional Studies. This paper contributes to the literature on cluster dynamics by developing a new methodology for identifying clusters that is not dependent on United States-based definitions. This methodology is used to test if the geographical clustering of economic activities leads to superior industrial performance and regional competitiveness. The analysis produces two important findings. First, when industries locate in an urban region with a critical mass of related industries, they tend to generate both higher incomes and rates of employment growth. Second, the overall prevalence of clustering within a city-region is positively associated with income levels and employment growth. Spencer G. M., Vinodrai T., Gertler M. S. et Wolfe D. A. Les grappes, qu'est-ce qu'elles changent? Définir et évaluer leur performance économique, Regional Studies. Cet article cherche à contribuer à la documentation sur la dynamique des grappes en développant une nouvelle méthodologie qui identifie les grappes et qui ne dépend pas des définitions américaines. On se sert de cette méthodologie afin d'évaluer si, oui ou non, le regroupement géographique des activités économiques entraîne une meilleure performance industrielle et une compétitivité régionale accrue. Il s'avère deux conclusions importantes. Primo, au moment où les industries s'installent dans une zone urbaine dotée d'un nombre critique d'industries qui s'y rattachent, elles ont tendance à créer à la fois des revenus et des taux de croissance de l'emploi plus élevés. Secundo, la tendance globale au regroupement au sein d'une cite-région est étroitement liée au niveau des revenus et à la croissance de l'emploi. Grappes Emplacement industriel Compétitivité Performance économique Aménagement du territoire Canada Spencer G. M., Vinodrai T., Gertler M. S. und Wolfe D. A. Machen Cluster einen Unterschied? Definition und Bewertung ihrer Wirtschaftsleistung, Regional Studies. In diesem Beitrag zur Literatur über Cluster-Dynamik entwickeln wir eine neue Methodologie zur Identifizierung von Clustern unabhängig von den Definitionen der USA. Anhand dieser Methodologie überprüfen wir, ob die geografische Ballung wirtschaftlicher Aktivitäten zu einer überlegenen industriellen Leistung und regionalen Wettbewerbsfähigkeit führt. Unsere Analyse führt zu zwei wichtigen Ergebnissen. Erstens: Wenn sich Branchen in einer urbanen Region mit einer kritischen Masse zugehöriger Branchen ansiedeln, erzeugen sie tendenziell höhere Einkommen und Raten von Beschäftigungswachstum. Zweitens: Die generelle Prävalenz von Clustern innerhalb einer Stadtregion hängt positiv mit der Einkommenshöhe und dem Beschäftigungswachstum zusammen. Cluster Industriestandort Konkurrenzfähigkeit Wirtschaftsleistung Regionale Wirtschaftsentwicklung Kanada Spencer G. M., Vinodrai T., Gertler M. S. y Wolfe D. A. ¿Marcan las aglomeraciones una diferencia? Definición y valoración del rendimiento económico, Regional Studies. En este artículo contribuimos a la literatura sobre las dinámicas de aglomeración al desarrollar una nueva metodología para identificar las aglomeraciones que no depende de las definiciones que proceden de los Estados Unidos. Mediante esta metodología comprobamos si es posible obtener mejoras en el rendimiento industrial y la competitividad regional con una aglomeración geográfica de las actividades económicas. Nuestro análisis arroja dos importantes resultados. Primero: cuando las industrias están ubicadas en un región urbana con una masa crítica de industrias relacionadas, tienden a generar tanto ingresos más altos como tasas superiores de crecimiento de empleo. Segundo: la prevalencia general de aglomeración en una región metropolitana está positivamente asociada a niveles de ingresos y crecimiento de empleo. Aglomeraciones Ubicación industrial Competitividad Rendimiento económico Desarrollo económico regional Canadá

[1]  Christina M.L. Kelton,et al.  Using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) to Identify National Industry Cluster Templates for Applied Regional Analysis , 2008 .

[2]  Majlinda Zhegu,et al.  Canada's regional innovation systems : the science-based industries , 2005 .

[3]  M. Storper The Resurgence of Regional Economies, Ten Years Later , 1995 .

[4]  A. Rodríguez‐Pose,et al.  Do Clusters Generate Greater Innovation and Growth? An Analysis of European Regions , 2011 .

[5]  David A. Wolfe,et al.  Clusters from the Inside and Out: Local Dynamics and Global Linkages , 2004 .

[6]  J. Simmie Critical surveys edited by Stephen Roper innovation and space: A critical review of the literature , 2005 .

[7]  Philip Raines Cluster behaviour and economic development: new challenges in policy evaluation , 2003, Int. J. Technol. Manag..

[8]  M. Porter Clusters and Competition: New Agendas for Companies, Governments and Institutions , 1998 .

[9]  A. Malmberg,et al.  (How) Do (Firms in) Clusters Create Knowledge? , 2005 .

[10]  Brian S. Silverman,et al.  Technological Resources and the Logic of Corporate Diversification , 2002 .

[11]  Edward M. Bergman,et al.  National Industry Cluster Templates: A Framework for Applied Regional Cluster Analysis , 2000 .

[12]  Gerald A. Carlino,et al.  Urban Density and the Rate of Invention , 2006 .

[13]  Rafael Boix,et al.  The new map of the industrial districts in Spain and the comparison with Italy and the United Kingdom : improving international comparison of industrial districts with common methodologies * , 2007 .

[14]  David A. Wolfe Clusters Old and New: The Transition to a Knowledge Economy in Canada's Regions , 2003 .

[15]  A. Lagendijk Learning from conceptual flow in regional studies: Framing present debates, unbracketing past debates , 2006 .

[16]  D. Wolfe,et al.  Clusters in a Cold Climate: Innovation Dynamics in a Diverse Economy , 2004 .

[17]  Charles H. Davis,et al.  Indicators to support innovation cluster policy , 2009, Int. J. Technol. Manag..

[18]  F. Moulaert,et al.  Territorial Innovation Models: A Critical Survey , 2003 .

[19]  M. Porter The Competitive Advantage Of Nations , 1990 .

[20]  Connecticut. North American Industry Classification System (Naics) , 2007 .

[21]  Peter Maskell,et al.  Towards a Knowledge‐based Theory of the Geographical Cluster , 2001 .

[22]  Alexander Kubis,et al.  The Identification of Industrial Clusters – Methodical Aspects in a Multidimensional Framework for Cluster Identification , 2010 .

[23]  Björn Asheim,et al.  Clusters and Regional Development: Critical Reflections and Explorations , 2006 .

[24]  David A. Wolfe,et al.  SPACES OF KNOWLEDGE FLOWS: CLUSTERS IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT , 2005 .

[25]  Michael Porter,et al.  The Economic Performance of Regions , 2003 .

[26]  John Paul MacDuffie,et al.  After Lean Production: Evolving Employment Practices in the World Auto Industry , 1999 .

[27]  T. Barnes,et al.  Canada's resource economy , 2001 .

[28]  J. Jenson ‘Different’ but not ‘exceptional’: Canada's permeable fordism , 2008 .

[29]  Local Antecedents and Trigger Events: Policy Implications of Path Dependence for Cluster Formation , 2006 .

[30]  Monica Matei-Chesnoiu Geography and Trade , 2012 .

[31]  M. Porter,et al.  The Competitive Advantage of Nations. , 1990 .

[32]  John Roberts,et al.  Mission Possible: A Canadian Resources Strategy for the Boom and Beyond , 2007 .

[33]  D. Wolfe,et al.  Global Networks and Local Linkages: The Paradox of Cluster Development in an Open Economy , 2005 .

[34]  David Terkla,et al.  Business Strategy and Cross-Industry Clusters , 1995 .

[35]  A. Malmberg,et al.  True clusters: A severe case of conceptual headache , 2006 .

[36]  R. Martin,et al.  Deconstructing clusters: chaotic concept or policy panacea? , 2003 .

[37]  F. Malerba,et al.  Clusters, networks and innovation: research results and new directions , 2005 .

[38]  A. Arundel,et al.  What percentage of innovations are patented? empirical estimates for European firms , 1998 .

[39]  Lisa De Propris,et al.  Mapping local production systems in the UK: Methodology and application , 2005 .

[40]  Stephen Roper,et al.  Innovation and Space: A Critical Review of the Literature , 2005 .

[41]  Michael E. Porter,et al.  Clusters of innovation : regional foundations of U.S. competitiveness , 2001 .

[42]  P. Cooke,et al.  The Rise of the Cluster Concept in Regional Analysis and Policy: A Critical Assessment. , 2006 .