 Does light touch cluster policy work? Evaluating the tech city programmeResearch Policy, 2022, vol. 51, issue 9 Abstract: Cluster policies are popular with policymakers, but we know surprisingly little about their effectiveness. This paper evaluates the causal impact of a flagship UK technology cluster programme that uses ‘light touch’, market-orientated interventions. I build a simple framework and identify effects using synthetic controls plus placebo tests to handle programme endogeneity concerns. I implement this design on rich workplace-level microdata from the Business Structure Database, alongside a range of other administrative sources. I explore mechanisms through further tests for timing, cross-space variation, scaling and churn. The policy grew and densified the cluster, but has much weaker, partial effects on tech firm performance. I also find most policy ‘effects’ began before rollout, raising questions about the programme's added value. More careful policy design could make future interventions more effective. Keywords: Clusters; Technology policy; Economic development; Synthetic controls (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:respol:v:51:y:2022:i:9:s0048733320302134 DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2020.104138 Access Statistics for this article Research Policy is currently edited by M. Bell, B. Martin, W.E. Steinmueller, A. Arora, M. Callon, M. Kenney, S. Kuhlmann, Keun Lee and F. Murray More articles in Research Policy from Elsevier |
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