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The Performance of Seaport Clusters - RePub - Erasmus Universiteit ...

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192<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Performance</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Seaport</strong> <strong>Clusters</strong><br />

related to the structure <strong>of</strong> a cluster and the four variables related to the governance <strong>of</strong> the<br />

cluster is confirmed in this research.<br />

Figure 18: <strong>The</strong> theoretical framework<br />

Cluster structure<br />

(Dis)agglomeration forces<br />

Internal competition<br />

Cluster barriers<br />

Heterogeneity<br />

Cluster<br />

performance<br />

NPV <strong>of</strong> value added<br />

Cluster governance<br />

Intermediaries<br />

Trust<br />

Leader firms<br />

Collective action regimes<br />

Experts were asked to identify variables that were not addressed in the survey. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

identified a number <strong>of</strong> variables, most importantly ‘distortions <strong>of</strong> the level playing field’,<br />

‘trends in the shipping industry’ and ‘the transport policy <strong>of</strong> a country’ (state). <strong>The</strong>se<br />

variables are relevant for the performance <strong>of</strong> port clusters. However, the framework deals<br />

exclusively with ‘cluster specific variables’ and these three variables are not cluster specific.<br />

Industry experts focus on the overall picture, but from a theoretical perspective a focus on<br />

cluster specific variables makes sense: without such a delimitation, an infinite number <strong>of</strong><br />

variables can be identified and ‘everything is related to everything’.<br />

As far as cluster specific variables are concerned, the framework developed in this study<br />

proved to be a useful and complete ‘tool’ to analyze the performance <strong>of</strong> (port) clusters. <strong>The</strong><br />

framework is an alternative for Porters well-known diamond framework and the adapted<br />

version <strong>of</strong> this diamond (Rugman et al, 1995). <strong>The</strong> most important differences between our<br />

framework and both alternatives are:<br />

• <strong>The</strong> distinction between structure and governance variables. In both alternatives, such a<br />

distinction is lacking. This distinction adds to the quality <strong>of</strong> the framework, in the sense<br />

that it is a shift away from the ‘mechanic’ explanation <strong>of</strong> the performance <strong>of</strong> a cluster

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