Clusters, Convergence, and Economic Performance

46 Pages Posted: 21 Oct 2010

See all articles by Mercedes Delgado

Mercedes Delgado

Copenhagen Business School

Michael E. Porter

Harvard University - Strategy Unit

Scott Stern

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Sloan School of Management; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: October 1, 2010

Abstract

This paper evaluates the role of regional cluster composition in the economic performance of industries, clusters and regions. On the one hand, diminishing returns to specialization in a location can result in a convergence effect: the growth rate of an industry within a region may be declining in the level of activity of that industry. At the same time, positive spillovers across complementary economic activities provide an impetus for agglomeration: the growth rate of an industry within a region may be increasing in the size and “strength” (i.e., relative presence) of related economic sectors. Building on Porter (1998, 2003), we develop a systematic empirical framework to identify the role of regional clusters – groups of closely related and complementary industries operating within a particular region – in regional economic performance. We exploit newly available data from the US Cluster Mapping Project to disentangle the impact of convergence at the region-industry level from agglomeration within clusters. We find that, after controlling for the impact of convergence at the narrowest unit of analysis, there is significant evidence for cluster-driven agglomeration. Industries participating in a strong cluster register higher employment growth as well as higher growth of wages, number of establishments, and patenting. Industry and cluster level growth also increases with the strength of related clusters in the region and with the strength of similar clusters in adjacent regions. Importantly, we find evidence that new industries emerge where there is a strong cluster environment. Our analysis also suggests that the presence of strong clusters in a region enhances growth opportunities in other industries and clusters. Overall, these findings highlight the important role of cluster-based agglomeration in regional economic performance.

Suggested Citation

Delgado, Mercedes and Porter, Michael E. and Stern, Scott, Clusters, Convergence, and Economic Performance (October 1, 2010). US Census Bureau Center for Economic Studies Paper No. CES-WP- 10-34, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1695011 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1695011

Mercedes Delgado (Contact Author)

Copenhagen Business School ( email )

Kilen
Frederiksberg, 2000
Denmark

HOME PAGE: http://www.delgadom.com/

Michael E. Porter

Harvard University - Strategy Unit ( email )

Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field Road
Boston, MA 02163
United States
(617) 495-6309 (Phone)
(617) 547-8543 (Fax)

Scott Stern

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Sloan School of Management ( email )

Cambridge, MA 02142
United States
617-253-3053 (Phone)
617-253-2660 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
495
Abstract Views
3,864
Rank
92,206
PlumX Metrics