ISBN: 3790814318
TITLE: Contributions to Economics
AUTHOR: Maggioni
TOC:

Chapter 1 - Introduction 1
Chapter 2 - What do we know about the clustering of high-tech firms? 5
2.1 Do firms cluster? 5
2.2 How can clustering be detected? 6
2.2.1 Simple counts, percentages and location maps 7
2.2.2 Relative vs. absolute effects 10
2.2.3 Measures of spatial concentration and inequality 11
2.2.4 The definition of clusters 15
2.3 Where do high-tech firms cluster? 20
2.3.1 Existing empirical evidence 20
2.3.2 New empirical evidence 22
2.3.3 Final remarks and observations 58
2.4 Appendix: data sources 59
Chapter 3 - Theoretical literature review 63
3.1 Introduction 63
3.2 "Classical" location theory 64
3.2.1 Least cost approach 64
3.2.2 "Demand side" approach 69
3.2.3 "Land utilisation" approach 70
3.3 General location equilibrium models and urban economic theory 71
3.3.1 Non-price interactions models 72
3.3.2 Monopolistic competition models 74
3.4 Game theory 76
3.5 Krugman and the new economic geography 77
3.6 Industrial geography 80
3.7 Technological infrastructure approach 82
3.8 Porter's competitive advantages 83
3.9 Jacobs and the economic history of cities 83
3.10 Diffusion theory 84
3.11 Path dependence, lack-in and informational cascades 86
3.12 Biological and ecological models 88
3.13 Concluding remarks 89
3.14 Moving forward 92
Chapter 4 - Modelling firms' location and cluster development 95
4.1 Introduction 95
4.2 Firm location processes and the development of clusters: a macro-economic (ecologically-derived) approach 96
4.2.1 The effect of previous locations on clustering dynamics 96
4.2.2 Locational benefits and costs and the development of an industrial cluster 97
4.2.3 A logistic model 100
4.2.4 Location process in a two-regions framework 106
4.2.5 Co-operative interactions 110
4.2.6 Multi-cluster interactions: some methodological remarks 115
4.3 Micro-economic foundation of ecological models: the role of expectations 117
4.3.1 Introduction 117
4.3.2 Subjective heterogeneity: the role of expectations 118
4.3.3 Entry dynamics 123
4.3.4 The initial critical mass 125
4.3.5 Firms 126
4.3.6 Exit dynamics 126
4.3.7 Concluding remarks 128
4.4 Cluster development policies in variable macro-economic conditions 129
4.4.1 Introduction 129
4.4.2 Policy interventions for local development 130
4.4.3 The relevance of external macro-economic conditions 131
4.4.4 Variable macro-economic conditions 133
4.4.5 Optimal long run development policies 134
4.4.6 Concluding remarks 136
4.5 Firm location processes and cluster's development: a micro-economic (innovation diffusion derived) approach 137
4.5.1 Epidemic models 137
4.5.2 Rank models 140
4.5.3 Rank, stock and order effects in the location process 143
Chapter 5 Survey of empirical literature 149
5.1 Why do firms cluster? 149
5.1.1 Agglomeration economies 151
5.1.2 Localised sources of demand and/or supply 152
5.1.3 Search costs reduction, diffusion, and informational cascades 153
5.1.4 Increase in market power 154
5.2 How do firms cluster? 154
5.2.1 Relevance of innovative infrastructure 156
5.2.2 Relevance of urbanisation/agglomeration economies 157
5.2.3 Relevance of institutional framework and national characteristics 157
5.2.4 Relevance of the availability of skilled labour 158
5.2.5 Relevance of venture capital and financial institutions 158
5.2.6 Relevance of the quality of life 159
5.2.7 Relevance of the proximity of R&D plants to head quarters locations 159
5.2.8 Relevance of site reputation, prestige and business climate 160
5.2.9 Excellence and success do not necessarily bring success 161
5.3 How to study clustering? 161
5.3.1 Advantages and drawbacks of direct surveys 161
5.3.2 Advantages and drawbacks of statistical macro-level studies 162
5.3.3 Advantages and drawbacks of econometric analyses 163
5.3.4 Advantages and drawbacks of simulations 163
5.4 Final remarks 163
Chapter 6 - Empirical analyses of the location of high-tech firms and of cluster development 165
6.1 Introduction 165
6.2 The role of geographical benefits 166
6.2.1 Estimating the role of geographical benefits in determining location decisions 168
6.3 Clustering of firms or workers? Scale vs. agglomeration economies 172
6.3.1 A rough indicator 173
6.3.2 A model 175
6.3.3 The data 176
6.3.4 The results 177
6.4 The growth of an isolated cluster 179
6.5 Competition and co-operation in the dynamic of clusters development 180
6.5.1 A model 181
6.6. Market structure and industrial specialization in the growth of high-tech clusters 186
6.6.1 A model 188
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