Abstract:

CentrePiece article
In brief...Swings and silicon roundabouts: does cluster policy work?
Max Nathan
March 2020
Paper No' CEPCP571:
Full Paper

CentrePiece 25 (1) Spring 2020

JEL Classification: L53; L86; O31; R30; R50

Tags: cities; clusters; technology; economic development; synthetic controls

Despite scepticism among researchers, policies to promote geographical clusters of firms in the same sector remain popular. Max Nathan evaluates a flagship programme set up a decade ago to accelerate the growth of Tech City in East London. While the cluster has increased in size and density, the outcomes for firm performance are – at best – mixed. That raises some bigger questions for future cluster policies.

This article summarises 'Does Light Touch Cluster Policy Work? Evaluating the Tech City Programme' by Max Nathan, CEP Discussion Paper No. 1648