Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • January 2016
  • Article
  • Strategic Management Journal

Zooming In: A Practical Manual for Identifying Geographic Clusters

By: Juan Alcacer and Minyuan Zhao
  • Format:Print
ShareBar

Abstract

This paper takes a close look at the reasons, procedures, and results of cluster identification methods. Despite being a popular research topic in strategy, economics, and sociology, geographic clusters are often studied with little consideration given to the underlying economic activities, the unique cluster boundaries, or the appropriate benchmark of economic concentration. Our goal is to increase awareness of the complexities behind cluster identification, and to provide concrete insights and methodologies applicable to various empirical settings. The organic cluster identification methodology we propose is especially useful when researchers work in global settings, where data available at different geographic units complicates comparisons across countries.

Keywords

Mathematical Methods

Citation

Alcacer, Juan, and Minyuan Zhao. "Zooming In: A Practical Manual for Identifying Geographic Clusters." Strategic Management Journal 37, no. 1 (January 2016): 10–21.
  • Find it at Harvard

About The Author

Juan Alcacer

Strategy
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • December 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Iberdrola: Leading the Energy Revolution

    By: Juan Alcácer and Emer Moloney
    • December 2022 (Revised January 2023)
    • Faculty Research

    Circles.Life at a Crossroads of Growth

    By: Juan Alcacer and Adina Wong
    • November 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Introduction to the RC Strategy Course 2023

    By: Juan Alcacer
More from the Authors
  • Iberdrola: Leading the Energy Revolution By: Juan Alcácer and Emer Moloney
  • Circles.Life at a Crossroads of Growth By: Juan Alcacer and Adina Wong
  • Introduction to the RC Strategy Course 2023 By: Juan Alcacer
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College