Dynamics of Brokerage Positions in Clusters: Evidence from the Spanish Foodstuffs Industry

José Antonio Belso-Martínez, Manuel Expósito-Langa, Francisco Mas-Verdú and F. Xavier Molina-Morales
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José Antonio Belso-Martínez: Departamento de Estudios Económicos y Financieros, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Spain
Francisco Mas-Verdú: Departamento de Economía y Ciencias Sociales, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
F. Xavier Molina-Morales: Departamento de Administración de Empresas y Marketing, Universitat Jaume I de Castellò de la Plana, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: Shifting away from traditional approaches orientated towards the analysis of the benefits associated with brokerage, this paper provides valuable insights into the dynamics of this network position and the opportunities to innovate that it provides. Using fine grain micro data collected in a foodstuff Spanish cluster, the evolution of different brokerage profiles is analyzed in depth. It was particularly evident how firm-level characteristics (status, former mediating experience and external openness) and their interactions may generate changes in the different brokerage roles over a period of time. The findings of this work partially validate expectations based on the network dynamics approaches. Status and previous mediating experience facilitate the creation of partnerships, fostering brokerage. Conversely, interaction effects demote brokerage activity at the intra-cluster level, suggesting the selective nature of brokers’ relational behavior.

Keywords: brokerage; foodstuff clusters; social network analysis; social status; extra cluster linkages; innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:2:p:290-:d:90676

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