Ecological Properties And Phase Characteristics Of Industrial Clusters

The phenomena of industrial clusters have attracted more attention and interests. The research on industrial clusters is in the ascendant. Current trend of industrial clusters have three aspects: First, people try to explain industrial cluster through other subjects—ecology, sociology, for example. Second, the influences of non-economic factors upon industrial clusters have been considered. Third, researchers think much of lifecycle of industrial clusters. The development of Chinese industrial clusters is in the growing phase. Some clusters are booming, the others are at low ebb. Therefore, the key issue is to comprehend the connotation of industrial clusters and to determine the phase characters for the Sustainable development of industrial clusters.Based on the concept, theory and form mechanism of industrial clusters, we find that the industrial clusters has the same structure, behavior and character. The article attempt to analyze phase characters in lifecycle of industrial clusters from the aspect of institutionalization, social network, path dependence. The essence and method of the study are elaborated as following:First, we summarize the concepts and correlative theories of industrial clusters and distinguish some definition. In the next place, the article sum up the new development of theory about agglomeration, ecology and social network. Cluster policy is also mentioned in this part.Second, from the point of locational choice of firms, the article discusses the form mechanism of industrial clusters. First we consider a two-location model of locational choice of firms in view of transport costs. Considering transport costs of product, two downstream firms will simultaneously locate in the large region. Considering transport costs of intermediate good, the upstream firm chooses to locate the same region with two downstream firms. Then we consider a three-location duopoly model and discuss the effect of knowledge spillover on location choice and spatial agglomeration.Theories and methods of ecology provide a new research framework for industrial clusters. From the point of view of ecology, industrial clusters are an organic whole and have similar behavior characters with biology population. Based on LV model, the article discusses ecology characters of industrial clusters about carrying capacity, population scale, intrinsic growth mechanism, life history strategies and population relations. Also, we bring forward four bionomic strategies.For a further discussion of life character and evolvement track of industrial clusters, the article attempt to analyze phase characters in lifecycle of industrial clusters from the aspect of institutionalization, social network, path dependence. It is an emphasis to discuss the life evidence in the declining phase of industrial clusters.The last part is research on the example of the Gaogou industrial clusters. From current situations, features and developmental restricted factors, it further proofs the...