Knowledge in the Air and Cooperation among Firms: Traditions of Secrecy and the Reluctant Emergence of Specialization in the Ceramic Manufacturing District of Lampang, Thailand

Weeranan Kamnungwut and Frederick Guy
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Weeranan Kamnungwut: Graduate School, Srinakharinwirot University, 114 Sukhumvit 23 Road, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Environment and Planning A, 2012, vol. 44, issue 7, 1679-1695

Abstract: We study interfirm relations among ceramic tableware manufacturers in the city of Lampang, Thailand. Data consist of face-to-face interviews with the principals of thirty-four manufacturers, and with representatives of supporting institutions. We find that specialization in production and knowledge sharing are complementary; that knowledge sharing is substantially discretionary, rather than taking the form of passive spillovers; and that a weak knowledge base, built on firm-based training within vertically integrated mass producers, constrains the development of flexible specialization, despite the efforts of numerous local and external actors.

Keywords: cluster; industrial district; specialization; knowledge transfer; ceramic industry; developing economies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envira:v:44:y:2012:i:7:p:1679-1695

DOI: 10.1068/a44522

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