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The dynamics of regional specialization and cluster formation: dividing trajectories of maritime industries in two Norwegian regions

2005; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 17; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/08985620500247702

1464-5114

Asbjørn Karlsen,

Global trade and economics

Abstract The theoretical starting point of this paper is the academic debate on regional specialization, agglomeration and industrial clusters. The paper offers further insights into the industrial dynamics within regional contexts by combining two approaches: (1) an historical study of industrial agency focusing on entrepreneurship, diversification and specialization; (2) a study of the relations within contemporary industrial systems important for industrial upgrading. Methodical triangulation has provided longitudinal studies. Particular attention is paid to path dependence as well as entrepreneurial capacity in order to explain why the industrial trajectories of matching regions divide. As the paper discusses continuity and change, a more dynamic perspective on path dependency is introduced. The past is not just regarded as a constraint, but as heritage as well. The dynamics leading to cluster formation and upgrading as well as industrial fragmentation are investigated in detail. The developments of shipyards and related maritime industries of the two Norwegian regions compared are characterized by static continuity and dynamic continuity, respectively. Keywords: cluster formationmaritime industriespath dependenceregional specializationNorway Acknowledgements The writing of this paper was supported financially by the Strategic Institute programme 'LIMING' at Nordland Research Institute, financed by the Research Council of Norway. The author of the paper wishes to thank two anonymous referees and the Editor for constructive comments on earlier versions of this paper. Notes The co-ordinated project involved a team of nine researchers. Each researcher was responsible for the study of their 'home' region, and the author of this paper focused on the North (Karlsen ). All quotations from the original Norwegian literature and from interviews with managers carried out by the author in 2001 have also been translated by the author. The yard merged with Ulstein in 1971 and this later became a part of Rolls Royce Marine. The company was owned by Wickers at the turn of the millennium and has since become a part of Rolls Royce Marine, which has its head office located in Ulstein. The company merged with Kværner in the 1980s, and became a part of Aker Kværner. Since the turn of the millennium the members of the Kleven family have been back in business, owning the yard at Ulstein. Today, Propulsion Ulstein is a company within Rolls Royce Marine. The company first became a part of the Ulstein group and recently has become part of Rolls Royce Marine. Survey question: 'How large a share of the company's total income originates from products and services developed during the last three years?'. The figure is based on the industrial actor's subjective assessments. The survey question was formulated as: 'From an overall assessment, how strong do you consider to be the relations/linkages to the following companies/institutions?'. A scale from 1–4, where 1 = no relation and 4 = strong relation. The illustrations only include linkages of a value equal to or higher than 2, whereas linkages equal to or higher than 3 are marked with bold lines. Linkages with values less than 2 are excluded. As note 9.