How logistics clusters can create jobs while providing companies with competitive advantage. Why is Memphis home to hundreds of motor carrier terminals and distribution centers? Why does the tiny island-nation of Singapore handle a fifth of the world's maritime containers and half the world's annual supply of crude oil? Which jobs can replace lost manufacturing jobs in advanced economies? Some of the answers to these questions are rooted in the phenomenon of logistics clusters—geographically concentrated sets of logistics-related business activities. In this book, supply chain management expert Yossi Sheffi explains why Memphis, Singapore, Chicago, Rotterdam, Los Angeles, and scores of other locations have been successful in developing such clusters while others have not. Sheffi outlines the characteristic “positive feedback loop” of logistics clusters development and what differentiates them from other industrial clusters; how logistics clusters “add value” by generating other industrial activities; why firms should locate their distribution and value-added activities in logistics clusters; and the proper role of government support, in the form of investment, regulation, and trade policy. Sheffi also argues for the most important advantage offered by logistics clusters in today's recession-plagued economy: jobs, many of them open to low-skilled workers, that are concentrated locally and not “offshorable.” These logistics clusters offer what is rare in today's economy: authentic success stories. For this reason, numerous regional and central governments as well as scores of real estate developers are investing in the development of such clusters. View a trailer for the book at: http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/22284-logistics-clusters-yossi-sheffi

When we talk about clusters, it's the fabulous destiny of Silicon Valley that first comes to mind – the place where entrepreneurs and policymakers alike flock. But do we really understand the complex mechanics of these clusters? What tools can economics and other related disciplines use to analyze their performance? When it comes to spending taxpayer money to support cluster development, do benefits actually exceed costs? This book provides a synthesis of cluster theory and presents methodologies to analyze their structure and performance. It also contains insights into how to renew regional innovation policy. The French edition of this volume was granted Best Book in Economics 2016 by The French Association of Economics (AFSE)

Karlsson has assembled a strong mix of papers that collectively provide a good sense of some of the latest research in the field. Edward Feser, Review of Regional Studies This is a book every regional scientist and spatial analyst should have on their bookshelf. Like most Handbook type publications it provides depth and breadth on the basics of the industrial clustering concept. However, unlike most of these type of collections, it goes beyond the foundation material to identify and speculate on questions that are emerging on the research frontiers such as at the intersection of cluster theory and agglomeration processes, knowledge spillovers and technology transfer not to mention the obvious link to economic development theory, policy and practice. Roger R. Stough, George Mason University, US This eclectic volume presents a host of methods to describe tendencies for the joint location of economic agents in space. And it illustrates useful applications of these concepts in diverse fields financial services, culture, tourism, and industry, to name just a few. John M. Quigley, University of California, US Clusters have increasingly dominated local and regional development policies in recent decades and the growing intellectual and political interest for clusters and clustering is the prime motivation for this Handbook. Charlie Karlsson unites leading experts to present a thorough overview of economic cluster research. Topics explored include agglomeration and cluster theory, methods for analysing clusters, clustering in different spatial contexts and clustering in service industries. Encompassing the developed economies of Europe and North America, the Handbook provides a basis for improving cluster policy formulation, interpretation and analyses. This comprehensive overview of research on economic clusters will be of interest to scholars and PhD students in (regional) economics, economic geography, regional planning and management as well as practitioners and policymakers at the national, regional and local levels involved in cluster formation and cluster management.

This important new book takes a critical view on regional industry clusters, in particular their identification and formation, and the policies which help create and support them.

This revised and updated introduction to geographical economics explains the who, why and where of the location of economic activity.