Cluster Regions

Neil Reid, Bruce W. Smith and Michael C. Carroll
Additional contact information
Neil Reid: University of Toledo, Ohio
Bruce W. Smith: Bowling Green State University, Ohio
Michael C. Carroll: Bowling Green State University, Ohio

Economic Development Quarterly, 2008, vol. 22, issue 4, 345-352

Abstract: One ongoing debate in the cluster literature concerns methods of delineating the spatial footprint of industrial clusters. Some cluster regions correspond to political boundaries. Researchers have also used qualitative methods and various quantitative techniques including location quotients and spatial statistics to demarcate clusters. A common weakness of most approaches is that researchers do not incorporate collaboration among cluster participants. In this article, the use of social network analysis (SNA) is illustrated. SNA is not proposed as an alternative to other methods of cluster mapping. Instead, the authors suggest that it complements other methods. Because SNA focuses on networks of social or interpersonal relationships, it provides a dimension that techniques focusing on economic relationships do not capture. One advantage of SNA is that it enables the identification of critical nonindustry actors, such as politicians, economic development practitioners, and academic researchers.

Keywords: cluster-based economic development; cluster mapping; greenhouse industry; Ohio (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:ecdequ:v:22:y:2008:i:4:p:345-352

DOI: 10.1177/0891242408322719

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