Cluster Genesis Technology-Based Industrial Development [Paperback]

Clusters - regional concentrations of related firms and organizations - are seen as being an important element of economic growth and innovation. But there is little understanding of how clusters come into existence, and little guidance provided on the role of policies that are conducive to the formation of clusters.

Cluster Genesis focuses on these early origins of clusters. The case histories of well-known, established clusters, as well as more recently-developed clusters are discussed, including:

? The Hollywood motion picture cluster,
? Silicon Valley,
? Boston and San Francisco biotech regions,
? The Biotech industry in China,
? Medicon Valley in Scandinavia,
? The Irish ITC sector.

Leading scholars contribute chapters examining cluster genesis, the divergent processes by which clusters arise, how multinationals contribute to cluster development, and how economic development policy may promote or hinder cluster genesis.

Cluster Genesisuses a variety of methodological perspectives, examines a range of policy options, and draws on a number of rich case histories, and will be key reading for academics, researchers, and students of Economics, Innovation, Sociology, Geography, and Management Studies, as well as economic development officials and policy makers.

Pontus Braunerhjelmearned his Ph.D. at the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva, Switzerland, in 1994. His research centers around issues related to entrepreneurship, knowledge, localization and industrial dynamics and growth. His has published extensively in journals and also contributed to several books internationally published. In 2000 he participated in the CEPR Monitoring European Integration report (with co-authors R. Faini, V. Norman, F. Ruane and P. Seabright). Dr. Braunerhjelm is presently heading two larger research projects: One on endogenous growth and entrepreneurship and the other on microeconomic dynamicslsh