Identifying Industrial Clusters from a Multidimensional Perspective: Methodical Aspects with an Application to Germany
Matthias Brachert, Mirko Titze, Alexander Kubis
Papers in Regional Science,
Nr. 2,
2011
Abstract
If regional development agencies assume the cluster concept to be an adequate framework to promote regional growth and
competitiveness, it is necessary to identify industrial clusters in a comprehensive manner. Previous studies used a diversity of methods to identify the predominant concentrations of economic activity in one industrial sector in a region. This paper is based on a multidimensional approach developed by Titze et al. With the help of the combination of concentration measures and input–output methods they were able to identify horizontal and vertical dimensions of industrial clusters. This paper aims to refine this approach by using a superior measure of spatial concentration and by integrating information about spatial interdependence of industrial cluster structures to contribute to a more adequate framework for industrial cluster identification.
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Regional Entrepreneurial Opportunities in the Biotech Industry: Exploring the Transition from Award-winning Nascent Entrepreneurs to Real Start-ups
H. Wolf, Claus Michelsen, Michael Schwartz
Abstract
Knowledge of factors that determine the transition from nascent entrepreneurship into real entrepreneurship is of major importance for policies aiming to effectively stimulate start-ups. Whereas scholars concentrated on person-specific factors to explain transition probabilities, environmental characteristics have been fairly neglected. Given that entrepreneurship is a strongly localized phenomenon, this paper argues that regional entrepreneurial opportunities are a driving force behind the transition from nascent entrepreneurship to new venture creation. Based on unique data on 103 nascent entrepreneurs in the German biotechnology industry, we empirically assess the importance of regional entrepreneurial opportunities on transition probabilities. Further, we introduce a new
approach to measure nascent entrepreneurship by capturing individuals that actively participate in start-up competitions and have won at least one competition. Controlling for technology and individual characteristics, we find strong support for our hypotheses relating to the significant impact of general regional opportunities, specific regional opportunities and the entrepreneurial environment for the probability of transition from award-winning nascent entrepreneurs to real start-ups.
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Transport Costs and the Size Distribution of a Linearly Arranged System of Cities
Albrecht Kauffmann
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 26,
2010
Abstract
The question regarding the effects of changing transports costs on the size distribution of cities is an important topic of systems of cities research. The so-called New Economic Geography has already given some answers to this question. One central assumption in this kind of model is a very particular, simplified spatial structure. This contribution investigates the consequences of changing transport costs for a system of cities that are located equidistantly on a straight line. In the case of rising transport costs, the main outcome of this model is worker concentration in the central large cities, while the peripheral regions lose residents.
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Das Städtesystem der Russischen Föderation aus Sicht der Neuen Ökonomischen Geographie
Albrecht Kauffmann
Potsdamer Schriften zur Raumwirtschaft, Bd. 2,
2010
Abstract
Der Anstieg der Energiepreise kann zu einer länger anhaltenden Verteuerung von Gütertransporten führen. Welche Auswirkungen haben steigende Transportkosten auf die Entwicklung von Städtesystemen? Ein solcher Transportkostenanstieg hat in der Russischen Föderation nach der Preisliberalisierung 1992 real, d.h. in Relation zu den Preisen anderer Gütergruppen stattgefunden. Gleichzeitig stellt die Bevölkerungsstatistik der Russischen Föderation Daten bereit, mit deren Hilfe Hypothesen zur Entwicklung von Städtesystemen unter dem Einfluss steigender Transportkosten geprüft werden können. Diese Daten werden in der vorliegenden Arbeit umfassend ausgewertet. Den theoretischen Hintergrund liefert die Modellierung eines Städtesystems mit linearer Raumstruktur im Rahmen der Neuen Ökonomischen Geographie. Damit wird ein Werkzeug geschaffen, das auch auf weiträumige Städtesysteme mit ausgeprägter Bandstruktur angewendet werden kann. Die hier erstmals erfolgte ausführliche Erläuterung des zu Grunde liegenden Theorieansatzes versteht sich als Ergänzung der Standardlehrbücher der Raumwirtschaftstheorie. Die Ergebnisse der empirischen Untersuchung bestätigen die Prognose des Modells, dass in großflächigen Ländern bzw. Regionen mit Ähnlichkeit zur unterstellten Raumstruktur ein Anstieg der Transportkosten Konzentrationstendenzen in den Zentren befördert, während die peripheren Regionen zunehmend abgekoppelt werden.
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How Does Industry Specialization Affect the Efficiency of Regional Innovation Systems?
Michael Fritsch, Viktor Slavtchev
The Annals of Regional Science,
Nr. 1,
2010
Abstract
This study analyzes the relationship between the specialization of a region in certain industries and the efficiency of the region in generating new knowledge. The efficiency measure is constructed by relating regional R&D input and output. An inversely u-shaped relationship is found between regional specialization and R&D efficiency, indicating the presence of externalities of both Marshall and Jacobs’ type. Further factors influencing efficiency are externalities resulting from high R&D intensity of the local private sector as well as knowledge from local public research institutions. The impact of both the specialization and the additional factors is, however, different for regions at different efficiency levels.
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The Identification of Industrial Clusters – Methodical Aspects in a Multidimensional Framework for Cluster Identification
Mirko Titze, Matthias Brachert, Alexander Kubis
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 14,
2010
Abstract
We use a combination of measures of spatial concentration, qualitative input-output analysis and innovation interaction matrices to identify the horizontal and vertical dimension of industrial clusters in Saxony in 2005. We describe the spatial allocation of the industrial clusters and show possibilities of vertical interaction of clusters based on intermediate goods flows. With the help of region and sector-specific knowledge interaction matrices we are able to show that a sole focus on intermediate goods flows limits the identification of innovative actors in industrial clusters, as knowledge flows and intermediate goods flows do not show any major overlaps.
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Urban Growth in Germany – The Impact of Localization and Urbanization Economies
Christoph Hornych, Michael Schwartz, Annette Illy, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 19,
2009
Abstract
This study examines the impact of localization and urbanization economies as well as the impact of city size on urban growth in German cities from 2003 to 2007. Although, from a theoretical perspective, agglomeration economies are supposed to have positive impacts on regional growth, prior empirical studies do not show consistent results. Especially little is known about agglomeration economies in Germany, where interregional support policy and the characteristics of the federal system are further determinants of urban growth. The results of the econometric analysis show a U-shaped relationship between specialization and urban growth, which particularly holds for manufacturing industries. We do not find evidence for the impact of Jacobs-externalities; however, city size shows a positive (but decreasing) effect on urban growth.
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Industry Concentration and Regional Innovative Performance – Empirical Evidence for Eastern Germany
Christoph Hornych, Michael Schwartz
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 8,
2009
Abstract
Regarding technological innovativeness, the transformed economy of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) clearly lags behind the Western part of the country. To face this weakness, a broad mixture of policy measures was carried out in recent years. Particular attention is drawn to the development of industry concentrations and economic ‘clusters’. However, little is known about the effectiveness of these policy measures regarding how industry concentrations in fact promote innovative performance in Eastern Germany. The present study tries to fill this gap by analyzing the relationship between industry concentration in Eastern Germany and regional innovative performance. Our empirical analysis is based upon the number of patent applications of 22 manufacturing industries in 22 Eastern German planning regions. The estimated regression models indicate an inverted U-shaped relationship between the degree of industry concentration and innovative performance. An exceedingly high degree of industry concentration in one region hampers regional innovative output. We discuss policy implications of our findings and give recommendations for future refinement of ‘cluster’-supporting policy schemes in Eastern Germany.
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Political Institutionalisation and Economic Specialisation in Polycentric Metropolitan Regions – The Case of the East-German ‘Saxony Triangle’
Peter Franz, Christoph Hornych
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 6,
2009
Abstract
The rising attention of politicians as well as scientists in the EU to the large urban agglomerations as centres of economic growth is accompanied by political efforts to identify and to demarcate such agglomerations under the label ‘metropolitan regions’. This study develops a theoretical framework broaching the issue of cooperation between municipalities from the perspective of regional economics as well as political science. The framework is applied to the empirical case of the polycentric metropolitan region ‘Saxony Triangle’ in East Germany. The results show that various intervening factors prevent intense cooperation between the actors in the region. Policy implications and con-
clusions for future research are discussed.
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