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Conceptualizing clusters through the lens of networks: a critical synthesis

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Author Info
Joana Almodovar () (MIoIR, Manchester Business School, U.K)
Aurora A.C. Teixeira () (CEF.UP, Faculdade de Economia, Universidade do Porto; INESC Porto)

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Abstract

Clusters, as spatial concentrations of economic activity, constitute an important form of coordination with significant repercussions in the configuration of firm and territorial strategies. They are recognized, both by academics and policymakers, as a territorial pattern of economy yielding critical issues in terms of competitive advantage, innovation, and economic growth. Despite that, a rigorous and clear-cut definition of cluster is still far from being reached. In the present paper, resorting to a critical synthesis of the literature on networks and clusters, we propose a unified, encompassing, and less blurred definition of cluster.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Economia do Porto in its series FEP Working Papers with number 328.

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Length: 23 pages
Date of creation: Jul 2009
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:por:fepwps:328

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Related research
Keywords: Clusters; Networks; Concepts;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
R10 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General
B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Institutional; Evolutionary

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Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
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    Other versions:
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    Other versions:
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