Advice networks, innovations and clusters : the case of Languedoc wine cooperatives
2006
Chiffoleau, Yuna | Dreyfus, Fabrice | Stofer, Raphäel | Touzard, Jean-Marc
Small firms are supposed to benefit from networking and clustering, but research has still to be done on thenature and the relevant forms of these networks. In this paper we propose to combine economics and economicsociology to assess the role of the inter-firm network in a cluster of innovative cooperatives, focusing on theexchanges of advice between managers. Our study is based on the case of 31 cooperatives, constituting a winecluster around Beziers (South of France). Using both sociometric and economic data, we find correlationsbetween co-operatives’ relational profiles and innovation or economic scores. The co-operatives’ specificityquestions the results get in different settings and calls for a comprehensive interactionist approach of firms andclusters.
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