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The microfoundations of cluster stickiness--walking in the shoes of the entrepreneur

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  • Zander, Ivo

Abstract

This paper offers a microlevel explanation for the uneven spatial and sectoral concentration of firms across national boundaries. Focusing on the geographical movements of (prospective) entrepreneurs and the cognitive processes that underlie new business formation, it is suggested that powerful forces work against the entrepreneur's active response to business opportunities that present themselves in geographically distant locations. As a result, clusters tend to evolve in locally distinct ways and over time maintain their unique business and technological profiles. The entrepreneurship perspective offers an explanation for cluster stickiness, which differs from and broadens the cost-benefit reasoning that currently dominates the economic geography literature.

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  • Zander, Ivo, 2004. "The microfoundations of cluster stickiness--walking in the shoes of the entrepreneur," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 151-175.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:intman:v:10:y:2004:i:2:p:151-175
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mikhail Martynovich, 2017. "The role of local embeddedness and non-local knowledge in entrepreneurial activity," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 741-762, December.
    3. Mainela, Tuija & Puhakka, Vesa & Sipola, Sakari, 2018. "International entrepreneurship beyond individuals and firms: On the systemic nature of international opportunities," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 534-550.
    4. Teng, Lefa & Huang, Dan & Pan, Yigang, 2017. "The Performance of MNE Subsidiaries in China: Does It Matter to Be Close to the Political or Business Hub?," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 292-305.
    5. Mikaela Backman & Charlie Karlsson, 2017. "Location of New Firms: Influence of Commuting Behaviour," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(4), pages 682-699, December.
    6. Dirk Dohse & Sascha Walter, 2012. "Knowledge context and entrepreneurial intentions among students," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 39(4), pages 877-895, November.

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