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Mapping a nation of regional clusters

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      A cluster is a regional concentration of related industries that arise out of the various types of linkages or externalities that span across industries in a particular location. The U.S. Benchmark Cluster Definitions are designed to enable systemic comparison across regions. View and compare clusters across the U.S.

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      A region is broadly defined as a county, economic area (EA), metro/micropolitan statistical area (MSA), or state. The U.S. Benchmark Cluster Definitions use the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis defined economic areas. View and compare regions across the U.S.

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      The Community of Practice enables practitioners to share Resources, post Blogs, and find partner Organizations. View and contribute content of interest to the cluster based economic development community.

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The Cluster Approach to Economic Development

by Amy Cogan Wares and Stephen J. Hadley, Weidemann Associates, Inc. and the Business Growth Initiative Project March 24, 2014

The increase in the number and variety of “cluster” and “competitiveness” projects in USAID programs since the late 1990s has been accompanied by considerable confusion about concepts and terms. This paper attempts to clarify cluster theory and summarize research on USAID-supported cluster activities. It explains the different uses of the term competitiveness and distinguishes between cluster initiatives and broader efforts to increase the competitiveness of firms, industries and countries. It suggests some guidelines for cluster development in order to help assure the most appropriate use of cluster development approaches in USAID programs.

Source

PDF icon The Cluster Approach to Economic Development.pdf
Tools and Technical Documents
Author: 
Amy Cogan Wares and Stephen J. Hadley
Publication/Specific Source: 
Weidemann Associates, Inc. and the Business Growth Initiative Project
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Copyright © 2018 President and Fellows of Harvard College.
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The U.S. Cluster Mapping Project is led by Professor Michael E. Porter at the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School.

This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration.