A relational view of clusters

Harald Bathelt and Johannes Glückler

Chapter 11 in Concise Introduction to Relational Economic Geography, 2026, pp 136-145 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Relational economic geography emphasizes that regional development is contextual, evolutionary and contingent in nature. This final chapter integrates central arguments discussed throughout this book into a consistent account of how regional economies, especially regional clusters, are relationally constructed. Our discussion illustrates that economic development is not predetermined by location factors, regional endowments or industrial structure. Instead, regional industries evolve in a contingent manner, depending on the social interaction between the actors both within a specific institutional context and across different contexts. Interaction of firms with suppliers, services providers, competitors, users, partners and other community members is crucial for developing products and services, getting access to new knowledge and resources, reducing uncertainties and building trust.

Keywords: Global pipeline; Industrial cluster; Industrial evolution; Local buzz; Super-cluster; Global cluster network (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781802204971
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