Network dynamics in spatial clusters. Focus on Industrial Districts of the Campania Region, Italy

Abstract

Highly dynamic paradigms of globalization are having an increased effect on local scales. In particular, the global market has become a formidable competitor of industrial agglomerations, allowing for the division of labor between areas with different factors. However, the local dimension still seems to play a key role which requires further research insights especially with reference to the network dynamics induced by the geography of companies at a local scale.

This work reports a summary of a multi-year project (2015-2020) - financed by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development - based upon identifying potential threats to localism, as well as examining the relations of the flows established between nodes of territorial clusters. The latter analysis relates to a specific study of the industrial districts of the Campania Region, Italy.

This research is intended to characterize the inter-district dynamics as well as to detect intra-district differences between to understand if they can actually constitute a resource even in the global era.

The results of the research, although referring to a particular case, are useful in an inductive approach to suggest dynamics and models that govern similar district scenarios in many other parts of the world.