The Cluster Effect - How clusters policy can makethe UK more competitive

In a global economy, regional economies are exposed to greater economic threats,but also opportunities. In the UK several strategies have been introduced to improvelocal and regional competitiveness. One important strategy is the promotion ofclusters – geographic concentrations of expertise and economic activity.The focus on clusters raises a number of important questions: What exactlyare clusters? Are their supposed benefits real? Can public policy help in theirdevelopment? Our findings suggest that clusters can be highly effective at improvingregional and national competitiveness. And that public policy can help, so long asit is coherent, and targeting the specific needs of clusters. Currently it is not.[...]