This paper presents a meta-analysis of the “cluster literature” contained in scientific journals from 1969 to 2007. Thanks to an original database we study the evolution of a stream of literature which focuses on a research object which is both a theoretical puzzle and an empirical...

This paper presents a meta-analysis of the cluster literature contained in scientific journals from 1969 to 2007. Thanks to an original database we study the evolution of a stream of literature which focuses on a research object which is both a theoretical puzzle and an empirical widespread...

Local industrial clusters have attracted much attention in the recenteconomic and geographical literature. A huge number of case studies have beenconducted. This paper presents a meta-analysis of the case studies of 159 localindustrial clusters in various countries and industries. Based on an...

Few industries are more concentrated than the global fashion industry. We analyse thegeography and evolution of the ready-to-wear fashion design industry by looking at the yearlyentry rates following an organizational ecology approach. In contrast to earlier studies onmanufacturing industries,...

A stochastic model of the evolution of the firm population in a regionand industry is developed. This model is used to make predictions about theexpected probability distribution of the firm number in regions and their dynamics.Data on the spatial distribution of firms in Germany is used to...

This paper studies the frequency of observing a certain number offirms or employees in a region for a given industry. Various predictions for thesefrequencies are deduced from theoretical considerations. Then, the empirical distri-butions of 198 industries in Germany are analysed. It is found...

This essay argues that economic systems should be defined in terms of clusters ofcomplementary institutions. To show how such an approach can be carried out, I use acluster analysis technique and data on forty different economic institutions in OECDnations to isolate four quite different...

Entry into an industry often clusters in regions where the industry is already concentrated,which is suggestive of agglomeration economies. Regional public research activities mayexert another attracting force on entrants into science-based industries. Empirically theseproximity effects are...