Cluster Studies as a Basis for Industrial Policy: The Case of Denmark

The concept of “resource areas” has been a cornerstone of Danish technology and industry policies since the early 1990s. Cluster studies are central to this approach. While earlier cluster studies were concerned with transactions between firms, frequently in an input-output framework, the more recent studies are based on a demand perspective. The paper discusses the methodologies used in applying the concept of resource areas to Danish industrial clusters, and the strengths and limitations of the approach.