Evaluation of Impacts of Logistics Clusters in the Corridor Rotterdam–Genoa

The emergence of logistics clusters is an economic development which could be observed in particular locations during the last decade. These locations are primarily linked to the global trade or have the function of a hinterland hub for these global links. They are characterized by a very high amount of handled goods, an excellent infrastructure of intermodal transfer facilities and a large pool of specialized labor. These factors lead to high economic growth, which can be read on specific indicators. While the concept of industry or production clusters is well recognized in academic research, analyses of logistics clusters are marked by a definitional ambiguity of spatial and economic delineation of the study area. Authors identify global, national or regional clusters. There is, however, no complete list of identified clusters in academic literature concerning application-oriented cluster concepts. This is partly grounded in the definitional dispute over fundamental cluster structures, which determines the discussion on cluster concepts of recent years. While it still lacks an empirical concept to identify these clusters: Is a location already a cluster if an above-average amount of companies out of a particular industry branch is in a particular location? Or is it a cluster if actors denote “from inside out” the location as a cluster? The paper gives an overview of the approach used in the project CODE24 with regional examples from case study areas.