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Can clusters be bi-polar? Exploring the case of the Piraeus port–maritime cluster

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  • Angeliki Pardali
  • Evangelos Kounoupas
  • Iasonas Lainos

Abstract

Further to being Greece’s biggest port, Piraeus has been a traditional pole of attraction for a plethora of organisations, companies, and institutions engaged in port- and shipping-related activities. Regional development literature has already indicated that the benefits deriving from adjacency and agglomeration economies are maximised when individual entities are organised in forming business clusters. Therefore, the paper critically addresses the existence of theoretical preconditions to a competitive port–maritime cluster formulation in wider Piraeus area. Based on a thorough review of cluster theory, the basic characteristics of clusters are identified to provide the analytical tools for examining the geographical concentration and economic specialisation in Piraeus. Field research in the form of in-depth interviews with leading shipping- and port-related business representatives and institutional bodies and the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data collected revealed that necessary preconditions for successful cluster formulation are met despite the inexistence of a formally recognised cluster. Two distinct poles of economic activity (shipping and port related) are recognised, demonstrating differentiated clustering behaviours and patterns of interaction with other players. The paper concludes with proposals deriving from this dual cluster structure and governance and the need for innovative, differentiated strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Angeliki Pardali & Evangelos Kounoupas & Iasonas Lainos, 2016. "Can clusters be bi-polar? Exploring the case of the Piraeus port–maritime cluster," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(6), pages 706-719, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:marpmg:v:43:y:2016:i:6:p:706-719
    DOI: 10.1080/03088839.2016.1169447
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    Cited by:

    1. Yang, Dong & Li, Chengkun & Li, Lu & Lai, Kee-hung & Lun, Venus Y.H., 2022. "Maritime cluster relatedness and policy implications," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 76-88.
    2. George K. Vaggelas & Athanasios A. Pallis, 2019. "Configuration and Prospects of the Piraeus Shipping Cluster," SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, University of Piraeus, vol. 69(1-2), pages 3-17, January-J.
    3. Peter J. Stavroulakis & Stratos Papadimitriou, 2017. "Situation analysis forecasting: the case of European maritime clusters," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(6), pages 779-789, August.
    4. Efimova Elena & Vroblevskaya Svetlana, 2019. "Are Eastern Baltic Ports the drivers of Eurasian trade?," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 55(3), pages 268-281, September.
    5. Shi, Xin & Jiang, Haizhou & Li, Huan & Xu, Dong, 2020. "Maritime cluster research: Evolutionary classification and future development," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 237-254.

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