A population ecology approach to capture dynamics of cluster evolution: Using computer simulation to guide empirical research

摘要

In this paper, we use the social capital theory to extend the topic about the evolution of industrial districts, aiming to verify whether or not social capital may be considered as a critical source in explaining the dynamics of population of co-localised organisations towards the phenomenon of passive internationalisation. The study explores these issues by analysing the pattern of fragmentation of production and the change of internal rules of actors inside a textile industrial district localised in the Center of Italy - Val Vibrata - after the "internal invasion" of foreign business players in different stages of chain value. We use these empirical data to calibrate a computer simulation model so to generate a number of near-histories that capture possible unfolding cluster dynamics.