Industrial Dynamics and Clusters: A Survey

Abstract

Frenken K., Cefis E. and Stam E. Industrial dynamics and clusters: a survey, Regional Studies. This paper reviews the literature on clusters and their effects on the entry, exit and growth of firms as well on the evolutionary dynamics underlying the process of cluster formation. This extensive review shows that there is strong evidence that clusters promote entry, but little evidence that clusters enhance firm growth and firm survival. From a number of open questions various future research avenues are distilled that stress the importance of firm heterogeneity and the exact mechanisms underlying localization economies.