Factors and Mechanisms Causing theEmergence of Local Industrial Clusters- A Meta-Study of 159 Cases.

Local industrial clusters have attracted much attention in the recenteconomic and geographical literature. A huge number of case studies have beenconducted. This paper presents a meta-analysis of the case studies of 159 localindustrial clusters in various countries and industries. Based on an overview ofthe various theories and arguments about the emergence of such clusters in theliterature, it analyses the involvement of 35 different local conditions and processes,providing a summary on the knowledge that is gathered in these case studies witha comparison between continents, new and old clusters, and high- and low-techindustries...