Cluster identification and the fostering of managerial cooperation: The case of Baja California

Abstract

THIS PAPER AIMS TO IDENTIFY EXISTING AND POTENTIAL CLUSTERS IN BAJA CALIFORNIA, IN ORDER TO DESIGN COMPETITIVITY POLICIES BASED ON THESES CLUSTERS. OUR BASIC ASSUMPTION IS THAT CLUSTERS ARE A CONVENIENT TOOL TO FOSTER REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS IT GENERATES A SOUNDER REGIONAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM, LESS DEPENDENT AND WITH MORE CHANCES TO INNOVATE BY ITSELF. THE METHODOLOGY PROPOSED INCLUDES THE USE OF A REGIONAL INPUT-OUTPUT MATRIX, THE ALGORITHM OF CZAMANSKI AND THE CHENERY-WATANABE COEFFICIENTS. BY THESE MEANS KEY, BASIC, INDEPENDENT AND PULLING SECTORS AND CLUSTERS ARE IDENTIFIED TO EVALUATE THE ROLE EACH ACTIVITY PLAYS IN THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM AND THE POTENTIAL RESULTS OF FOSTERING ANY OF THEM. WE SUGGEST THE COMPETITIVITY POLICY PROPOSAL SHOULD INCLUDE CLUSTER IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION OF ACTIONS ACCORDING TO THEIR IMPACT ON STRATEGIC CLUSTERS AND THE STRATEGIC ASPECTS OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.