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Contextualizing Research on Social Capital in Regional Clusters

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  • UDO STABER

Abstract

Numerous works in economic geography and regional studies have considered social capital a salient factor in the performance of regional business clusters. Theoretical arguments have focused on those structural, relational and cognitive features of social capital that are expected to facilitate cooperation and innovation as a basis for cluster success. However, the available empirical evidence on the performance implications of social capital is weak and largely inconsistent. I argue that one reason for the observed cross‐study inconsistencies is the neglect of the situational context in which social capital evolves. I discuss how acontextual studies can lead to analytical error and flawed conclusions concerning the performance outcomes of social capital. I propose several approaches to contextualizing research and discuss how they would advance our understanding of the performance implications of social capital in a cluster setting. Résumé De nombreux travaux de géographie économique et études régionales voient dans le capital social un facteur fondamental de la réussite des pôles d'entreprises régionaux. Les discussions théoriques ont porté sur les caractéristiques structurelles, relationnelles et cognitives du capital social qui sont censées faciliter coopération et innovation, composantes de base de la réussite de ces pôles. Toutefois, les preuves empiriques disponibles des implications du capital social dans cette réussite sont fragiles et peu cohérentes. Cet article affirme que les incohérences des études croisées tiennent, pour une part, à l'ignorance du contexte situationnel dans lequel évolue le capital social. Il expose comment des études hors contexte peuvent conduire à une erreur analytique et à des conclusions incorrectes quant aux résultats générés par le capital social. Il propose plusieurs approches pour placer les recherches en contexte et analyse comment, grâce à elles, nous pourrions mieux comprendre la part de réussite propre au capital social dans le cadre d'un pôle donné.

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  • Udo Staber, 2007. "Contextualizing Research on Social Capital in Regional Clusters," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 505-521, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ijurrs:v:31:y:2007:i:3:p:505-521
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2427.2007.00742.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Jörg Sydow & Frank Lerch & Udo Staber, 2010. "Planning for Path Dependence? The Case of a Network in the Berlin‐Brandenburg Optics Cluster," Economic Geography, Clark University, vol. 86(2), pages 173-195, April.
    2. Rune Dahl Fitjar & Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, 2017. "Nothing is in the Air," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(1), pages 22-39, March.
    3. Jenny Onyx & Rosemary Leonard, 2010. "The Conversion of Social Capital into Community Development: an Intervention in Australia's Outback," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(2), pages 381-397, June.
    4. Trent A. Engbers & Michael F. Thompson & Timothy F. Slaper, 2017. "Theory and Measurement in Social Capital Research," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 537-558, June.
    5. Jue Wang & Philip Shapira, 2012. "Partnering with universities: a good choice for nanotechnology start-up firms?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 38(2), pages 197-215, February.
    6. Dadan Wardhana & Rico Ihle & Wim Heijman, 2020. "Farmer cooperation in agro‐clusters: Evidence from Indonesia," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(4), pages 725-750, October.
    7. Ariel Mendez & Delphine Mercier, 2007. "Territorial Dynamics and History Imprint : Two french Clusters in Transition in the South East Region," Working Papers halshs-00360764, HAL.
    8. Franz Huber, 2009. "Social Capital Of Economic Clusters: Towards A Network‐Based Conception Of Social Resources," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 100(2), pages 160-170, April.
    9. López, Santiago M. & Molero, José & Santos-Arteaga, Francisco J., 2011. "Poverty traps in a frictionless world: The effects of learning and technology assimilation," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 106-115, June.
    10. Vanessa Sha Fan & Renuka Mahadevan, 2019. "The Role of Social Capital and Remote Chinese Villagers’ Well-Being," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 143(3), pages 1109-1128, June.
    11. Kapitsinis, Nikolaos & Metaxas, Theodore, 2011. "Economic crisis and the role of state policies in current globalized economy. The case of Greece," MPRA Paper 43650, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Danny P. Soetano & Mozhdeh Taheri & Marina van Geenhuizen, 2012. "Social Capital’s and Absorptive Capacities’ Impact on New Ventures’ Growth," Chapters, in: Marina van Geenhuizen & Peter Nijkamp (ed.), Creative Knowledge Cities, chapter 10, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    13. Udo Staber, 2011. "Partners Forever? An Empirical Study of Relational Ties in Two Small-firm Clusters," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 48(2), pages 235-252, February.
    14. Pulles, Niels J. & Schiele, Holger, 2013. "Social Capital Determinants of Preferential Resource Allocation in Regional Clusters," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 24(2), pages 96-113.
    15. Anna Lydaki, 2012. "Geometry or poetry? Issues of methods and techniques in regional research," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 46(1), pages 291-301, January.
    16. Cirer-Costa, Joan Carles, 2015. "Pouring oil over the Balearic tourism industry," MPRA Paper 61164, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Nick Williams & Robert Huggins & Piers Thompson, 2020. "Entrepreneurship and Social Capital: Examining the Association in Deprived Urban Neighbourhoods," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(2), pages 289-309, March.
    18. Burhan, Nik Ahmad Sufian & Sidek, Abdul Halim & Kurniawan, Yohan & Mohamad, Mohd Rosli, 2014. "Has Globalization Triggered Collective Impact of National Intelligence on Economic Growth?," MPRA Paper 77316, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Ion Lucian Ceapraz & Catherine Delhoume, 2014. "What Type Of Social Capital Is Engaged By The French Dairy Stockbreeders? A Characterization Through Their Professional Identities," Romanian Journal of Regional Science, Romanian Regional Science Association, vol. 8(1), pages 69-86, JUNE.
    20. Gloria Parra‐Requena & Francesc Xavier Molina‐Morales & Pedro Manuel García‐Villaverde, 2010. "The Mediating Effect of Cognitive Social Capital on Knowledge Acquisition in Clustered Firms," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(1), pages 59-84, March.
    21. Ion Lucian Ceapraz, 2012. "Social capital as a measure of innovation for rural clusters: the case of France and US," ERSA conference papers ersa12p1003, European Regional Science Association.

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