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- Title
Beyond the cluster: A case study of pipelines and buzz in the glocal relational space of the glove‐related industry of Shikoku, Japan.
- Authors
Taira, Atsushi
- Abstract
Unlike a limited number of success stories of industrial clusters such as Silicon Valley and the Third Italy, many local industrial clusters in advanced economies are shrinking due to severe international competition. Some firms, however, continue to be resilient even in struggling clusters. This paper argues that managing a balanced web of trust‐based "pipelines" and "buzz" in the glocal relational space – balancing detachment and embeddedness – plays a crucial part in the success of these firms. In recent decades, economic geography has had a significant focus on intra‐ and inter‐firm pipelines and buzz inside and outside the cluster. Theoretical debates on the topic have flourished. However, empirical case studies, particularly from Japan, are limited. This study attempts to fill the gap through a longitudinal case study of leading firms in a local industry – the glove‐related industry of Shikoku, Japan. The paper suggests that bringing together the flying geese theory with the pipeline and buzz concept furthers our understanding of the processes at work. The study's results suggest that successful firms – "the lead geese" – manage long‐held pipelines as well as newly established ones in the glocal relational space. The paper concludes that it is forward‐looking, international‐oriented leading firms which have the potential to make the cluster resilient in sales and employment rather than the cluster taking the dominant role itself.
- Subjects
JAPAN; GLOCALIZATION; INDUSTRIAL clusters; PIPELINES; GLOVE industry
- Publication
Geographical Journal, 2020, Vol 186, Issue 1, p45
- ISSN
0016-7398
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/geoj.12333