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Industrial Clusters as Drivers of Sustainable Regional Economic Development? An Analysis of an Automotive Cluster from the Perspective of Firms’ Role

Author

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  • Xiaofei Chen

    (Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China)

  • Enru Wang

    (Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
    Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA)

  • Changhong Miao

    (Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
    The College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China)

  • Lili Ji

    (School of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China)

  • Shaoqi Pan

    (The College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China)

Abstract

This paper examined the relationships among firms in a rapidly growing specialized industrial cluster—the Chery automotive cluster located in the Wuhu Economic and Technology Development in eastern China. After demonstrating how the Chery automotive cluster contributed to sustainable regional economic development, it focused on defining the roles that major firms play in the localized production network. Based on three attributes of the firm (network linkages, network position, and network power), the study identified a typology of firms’ role, including the dominant core, lead firms, gatekeepers, intermediaries, club of foreigners, peripherals, and loners. By revealing the heterogeneity of the firms and discussing the differing roles they play in the network, the paper made some policy recommendations to promote the sustainable development of the cluster, including providing policy supports to core firms, encouraging inter-firm networking and interaction, and diversifying the cohort of gatekeepers.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaofei Chen & Enru Wang & Changhong Miao & Lili Ji & Shaoqi Pan, 2020. "Industrial Clusters as Drivers of Sustainable Regional Economic Development? An Analysis of an Automotive Cluster from the Perspective of Firms’ Role," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-22, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:2848-:d:341001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Tatyana V. Mirolyubova & Dmitry A. Koshcheev, 2022. "System spatial method for assessing an industrial cluster’s impact on the regional socioeconomic development," Journal of New Economy, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 23(4), pages 69-86, January.
    3. Aurora Carneiro Zen & Bruno Anicet Bittencourt & Jose-Luis Hervas-Oliver & Ronald Rojas-Alvarado, 2022. "Sustainability-Oriented Transition in Clusters: A Multilevel Framework from Induction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, April.
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