Industrial Network Communities and Convergence-Divergence Patterns : Evidence From the 2008 Financial Crisis in Japan

We study industries in Japan using community detection algorithms and evaluate their dynamics through the lenses of two alternative convergence frameworks. The results suggest robust convergence patterns for one of the communities found. We also observe different convergence clubs between and within communities. Overall, strong divergence patterns for low productivity industries are found. For the entire period, convergence was not statistically significant at any dis-aggregation level. However, after the crisis one community exhibits significant convergence signs and overall the speed of divergence reduces. This results suggest that policy may be localized at the community level