clusters

The paper investigates the tendencies of co-location between the producer service
sector and the manufacturing sector across Swedish functional regions based on employment data across municipalities from 1993-2000. Accessibility based on time distance is incorporated into the analysis to allow for inter-municipal effects.

The author investigates whether agglomeration forces do have an impact on the innovative performance of a collection of spatially concentrated aeronautic firms in Northern Germany.

The objective of the paper is to analyze whether some East German regions have already achieved the same economic capability as the regions in West Germany, so that they are on a competitive basis with the West German regions and are able to reach the same economic level in the long run.

The authors examine the spatial clustering of ICT industries in Swedish functional regions and changes in the patterns of clustering during the 1990-2001 period. The author also compares the development of the ICT sector in regions with ICT clusters with the development of the ICT sector in regions specialized in large scale ICT production
and in regions specialized in small scale ICT entrepreneurship.

The research commissioned for the report investigates whether business clusters could be used as a delivery mechanism for sustainable development. The report examines evidence for sustainable business within the United Kingdom, and covers summaries of presentations given during the Regional Futures Third Learning Event held in Birmingham.

The paper states that the strength and vitalities of universities remains essential for growth in the knowledge-based economy. The author contends that continued public support for teaching and research are essential to contribute to the growth of their local and regional economies.

The working paper states that policy measures aimed at the development of clusters must take into account which development stage the cluster is currently in. The authors suggest it is very difficult to change the course of a declining cluster, even through policy intervention. The authors say that instead of supporting the declining cluster, policymakers should focus on the formation of a new one that could build upon the assets of the old.

The report analyzes the Appalachian Regional Commission area of technology resources at a sub-regional level and uncovers localized technology strengths that might be promoted through concentrated economic development policy. Three major recommendations are provided illustrating that the technology sector of the region is small, yet expanding.

The study from Regional Technology Strategies finds that while cluster-based economic development strategies have the potential to expand opportunities for disadvantaged populations and rural regions, most current strategies do not pay attention to equity issues. The report also looks at the implications of cluster strategies for low and middle income people, economically distressed urban and rural areas and small enterprises.

Presented at the 2002 DRUID Summer Conference, the study contests that cluster development is a combination of elements of both new economic theory focusing on increasing returns and old economic theory, concentrated on comparative advantage. A few public policy recommendations are offered as well.