1. Introduction This report begins with a short background description of where the idea of industrial clustering came from and a summary of industry cluster characteristics. Next it outlines the potential advantages and disadvantages clusters provide regional economies. In conclusion, I will summarise by advising whether or not Development Agency should concentrate its resources on development of clusters. 2. Background More than hundred years ago Alfred Marshall came up with the idea that a success of national …showed first 75 words of 1573 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1573 total…Sociology, 15 (1999), 182-3 Andrew Bernat ·"Industry Cluster Literature Review" Jessica Veen, Plan 261: Urban and Regional Development, March 1998 www.planning.unc.edu/courses/261/leveen/litrev.htm ·"Rural Industrial Development: To Cluster or Not to Cluster" Review of Agricultural Economics, Vol.19 No.2 (Fall/Winter 1997) Barkley, Henry ·Shorebank Enterprise Group "Bridging Community and Economic Development" Christensen, McIntyre, Pikholz, June 2002 www.shorebankcleveland.com/media/pdf/cluster.pdf ·Government White Paper "Government and business in the knowledge driven economy", chapter one