Life Cycle for Clusters? The Dynmics of Agglomeration, Change, and Adaption

The phenomenon of non-random spatial concentrations of firms in one or few related sectors (clusters) is intensively debated in economic theory and policy. The euphoria about successful clusters however neglects that historically, many thriving clusters did deteriorate into old industrial areas. This book studies the determinants of cluster survival by analyzing their adaptability to change in the economic environment. Linking theoretic knowledge with empirical observations, a simulation model (based in the N/K method) is developed, which explains when and why the cluster's architecture assists or hampers adaptability. It is found that architectures with intermediate degrees of division of labour and more collective governance forms foster adaptability. Cluster development is thus path dependent as architectures having evolved over time impact on the likelihood of future survival.Press, Kerstin is the author of 'Life Cycle for Clusters? The Dynmics of Agglomeration, Change, and Adaption', published 2006 under ISBN 9783790817102 and ISBN 3790817104.