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Enterprise Clusters and Industrial Districts in Colombia's Fashion Sector†

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  • Carlo Pietrobelli
  • Tatiana Olarte Barrera

Abstract

This paper presents the theory of enterprise clusters and industrial districts, and contrasts it with the evidence of two productive agglomerations in the fashion sector in Colombia. The empirical evidence on Bucaramanga and Medellín, that host the largest groups of Colombian textile and clothing producers and exporters, is based on a survey questionnaire, carried out in November--December 1998. The results of the survey confirm the relevance of the Industrial district concept in understanding the recent developments of Colombia's textile and garments industry, and reveal the presence of some dimensions of an enterprise cluster in both Medellín and Bucaramanga, although each with different characteristics. However, both Colombian clusters are characterized by a low degree of firm--level specialization and poorly--developed enterprise networks. This is similar to what has been observed in most enterprise clusters in Latin America, and may clearly hinder the local external economies and collective efficiency. Backward linkages are poor or lacking in both clusters. The strategy prevailing in most enterprises has been the internalization of many stages of the productive process. Forward linkages are much stronger, and the retailers play a crucial role in the commercial phases. However, only Bucaramanga firms have entered global production and marketing networks, whereas Medellín firms are mainly oriented to the national market. Moreover, the two clusters have developed under very different economic policy regimes, and this had had its consequences on the clusters' performance and structure.

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  • Carlo Pietrobelli & Tatiana Olarte Barrera, 2002. "Enterprise Clusters and Industrial Districts in Colombia's Fashion Sector†," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(5), pages 541-562, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eurpls:v:10:y:2002:i:5:p:541-562
    DOI: 10.1080/09654310220145323
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Roberta Rabellotti, 1997. "External Economies and Cooperation in Industrial Districts," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-349-25794-2.
    2. Wagner, Alfred, 1891. "Marshall's Principles of Economics," History of Economic Thought Articles, McMaster University Archive for the History of Economic Thought, vol. 5, pages 319-338.
    3. Roberta Rabellotti, 1997. "External Economies and Cooperation in Italy and Mexico," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: External Economies and Cooperation in Industrial Districts, chapter 7, pages 133-165, Palgrave Macmillan.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ozlem Ozkanli & Erkan Erdil & Erdal Akdeve, 2008. "Innovation And Relationships In Industrial Districts: The Case Of Turkey," STPS Working Papers 0801, STPS - Science and Technology Policy Studies Center, Middle East Technical University, revised Aug 2008.
    2. Dominic Power & Johan Jansson, 2011. "Constructing Brands from the Outside? Brand Channels, Cyclical Clusters and Global Circuits," Chapters, in: Andy Pike (ed.), Brands and Branding Geographies, chapter 9, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Giuliani, Elisa & Pietrobelli, Carlo & Rabellotti, Roberta, 2005. "Upgrading in Global Value Chains: Lessons from Latin American Clusters," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 549-573, April.
    4. Erkan Erdil & Dilek Cetin, 2008. "Innovation and Relationships in an Organized Indutrial District: Ankara Sincan Industrial District," STPS Working Papers 0802, STPS - Science and Technology Policy Studies Center, Middle East Technical University, revised Aug 2008.
    5. Andreas Rauch & Robert van Doorn & Willem Hulsink, 2014. "A Qualitative Approach to Evidence–Based Entrepreneurship: Theoretical Considerations and an Example Involving Business Clusters," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 38(2), pages 333-368, March.
    6. Allen J Scott, 2005. "Cultural-Products Industries And Urban Economic Development: Prospects For Growth And Market Contestation In Global Context," Urban/Regional 0511005, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Micheline Goedhuys & Norbert Janz & Pierre Mohnen, 2014. "Knowledge-based productivity in "low-tech" industries: evidence from firms in developing countries," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 23(1), pages 1-23, February.
    8. Zhuqing Yang & Yuanyuan Zhu & Yulin Zhang, 2022. "Does urban shrinkage lower labor productivity? The role of spatial expansion," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(S2), pages 106-117, November.

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