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Cluster Internationalization: Qualitative Review, Theoretical Direction, and the Rise of Emerging Markets’ Themes

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  • Yantai Chen

    (School of Management, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310000, China)

  • Jing Li

    (School of Management, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310000, China
    School of Management, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314001, China)

  • Ruoying Li

    (School of Public Administration, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310000, China)

Abstract

The growing phenomenon of cluster internationalization has enriched the existing international business theories, but has also brought new puzzles and problems for these theories and perspectives. To synthesize what we do and do not know concerning cluster internationalization, we employed the qualitative content analysis method, systematically reviewing 348 articles published during the period 1990–2019, as well as 16,486 references. Our review examined five major areas, including citations, co-citations, theoretical foundations, co-occurrence networks, and three-phase research topics (pre-internationalization, internationalization, and post-internationalization) based on ten keywords. Moreover, we found that the research on the internationalization of emerging market clusters has shown a rising trend in recent years. We took China as an example to conduct in-depth research on three types of cluster internationalization (inward internationalization, outward internationalization, and overseas parks) with a view to expanding the academic perspective of the internationalization of emerging economic clusters. Finally, in order to promote further research on cluster internationalization, potential future themes related to cluster internationalization research are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Yantai Chen & Jing Li & Ruoying Li, 2021. "Cluster Internationalization: Qualitative Review, Theoretical Direction, and the Rise of Emerging Markets’ Themes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-26, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:19:p:10514-:d:640694
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