ISBN : 9782296551848
INVESTIGATING CLUSTER EMERGENCE AND EVOLUTION DYNAMICS
Where do clusters come from?1 What are the dynamics underlying their emergence and structuring patterns, especially in their initial stage? Are these dynamics primarily rooted in the historical trajectories of the territories nurturing the specific ingredients that lead to clustering phenomena (key role of territorial path-dependency), or may they also be the outcome either of mere accidents (random factors) or purposive action (strategic moves of particular actors and/or public policies)? Beyond, may clusters emerge as the result of a “copycat effect”/ “mimetic isomorphism” (Appold, 2005; Gertler and Levitte, 2005) or from a “chain location” dynamics (Caplin and Leahy, 1998)? In other words, what are the respective roles of institutional and endogenous dynamics, of contingency, of dedicated policies and of strategic decisions? In the two latter cases, which actors appear to be crucial in initiating, accompanying or driving viable clustering processes? Finally...