Cluster-Based Economic Development: A Key to Regional Competitiveness. CaseStudies

摘要

This report is a companion volume to a research publication of the same title andsubtitle. Using case studies of 18 initiatives, the report describes a variety of frameworks for regional growth all based on the recognition that healthy regional economies are composed of industry clusters and their supporting economic infrastructure. Industry clusters consist of agglomerations of competing and collaborating industries in a region networking into horizontal and vertical relationships involving a strong common buyer-supplier linkages and relying on a shared foundation of specialized economic institutions. Because they are built around core export-oriented firms, industry clusters bring new wealth into a region and help drive the region's economic growth. Because no two regions face identical challenges in adapting to economic change, economic development leaders must seek an approach that is adaptable to the political, economic, and social circumstances of their region. The cases are located in the states of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and the Mexican state of Chichuahua.