Book Description

. . . the book is an interesting collection of anecdotal evidence. . . the book makes for interesting reading, both from the point of view of case studies and in terms of empirical methodological applications. Silvia Grandi, Economic Geography Research Group This is a valuable book. The individual chapters contain original case-study evidence and analytical insights. . . it is one that should be consulted by any scholar working in the area if industrial agglomerations and new technology. Simona Iammarino, Economic Geography This book, a collaborative effort by researchers from Japan, Italy and the USA, seeks to explore the reasons for industrial clustering in certain regions of Asia, Europe and North America. The studies presented illustrate real examples of industrial clusters, adding anecdotal evidence to the emerging theory of economic geography by exemplifying the centripetal and centrifugal forces that regulate the clustering process. The authors examine clusters in a diverse set of countries including China, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the USA and Vietnam. Significantly, the book provides an interesting split between studies of IT and software-related industries, and more traditional sectors, such as steel and vehicle manufacturing. Industrial Agglomeration and New Technologies pays attention to a varied array of factors that influence clustering, such as knowledge spillovers, tacit knowledge, communication and transport costs, and the effects of various government policies. The case studies provide useful examples for government and industry leaders, as well as a starting point for researchers seeking an ultimate answer to the question: Why do firms form clusters?