Cluster Internationalization: Qualitative Review, Theoretical Direction, and the Rise of Emerging Markets’ Themes

Yantai Chen,Jing Li,Ruoying Li

doi:10.3390/su131910514

Yantai Chen, Jing Li + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910514

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Abstract

The growing phenomenon of cluster internationalization has enriched the existing international business theories, but has also brought new puzzles and problems for these theories and perspectives. To synthesize what we do and do not know concerning cluster internationalization, we employed the qualitative content analysis method, systematically reviewing 348 articles published during the period 1990–2019, as well as 16,486 references. Our review examined five major areas, including citations, co-citations, theoretical foundations, co-occurrence networks, and three-phase research topics (pre-internationalization, internationalization, and post-internationalization) based on ten keywords. Moreover, we found that the research on the internationalization of emerging market clusters has shown a rising trend in recent years. We took China as an example to conduct in-depth research on three types of cluster internationalization (inward internationalization, outward internationalization, and overseas parks) with a view to expanding the academic perspective of the internationalization of emerging economic clusters. Finally, in order to promote further research on cluster internationalization, potential future themes related to cluster internationalization research are discussed.

Highlights

Since the 1990s, many studies have shown that competitiveness can be enhanced in industrial clusters or regions that are geographically concentrated and sector-specific [1,2,3,4].With the development of economic globalization and industrial internationalization, various resources and production factors have flowed, allocated, and reorganized globally, accelerating the globalization process in the fields of production, trade, investment, and finance, and further promoting regional economic development
International business scholars and economic geographers have begun to cross boundaries and establish a new conceptual framework in order to gain a better understanding of the emerging pattern of international competition, the process of forming new capabilities, and the development prospects of countries that are striving to improve their positions in various global industries [6]
It is worth noting that, emerging economies have played a role on the international stage for 30 years [7,8], since the beginning of the 21st century, the economies of the emerging economies represented by the BRICS, the five BRICS, and the 11 countries have been growing rapidly

Summary

Introduction

Since the 1990s, many studies have shown that competitiveness can be enhanced in industrial clusters or regions that are geographically concentrated and sector-specific [1,2,3,4].With the development of economic globalization and industrial internationalization, various resources and production factors have flowed, allocated, and reorganized globally, accelerating the globalization process in the fields of production, trade, investment, and finance, and further promoting regional economic development. Since the 1990s, many studies have shown that competitiveness can be enhanced in industrial clusters or regions that are geographically concentrated and sector-specific [1,2,3,4]. As the main carrier of regional economic development, industrial clusters follow this historical trend, actively integrate into the international economy, and participate in the global competition, reflecting the competitiveness and development status of the economies of different countries [5]. International business scholars and economic geographers have begun to cross boundaries and establish a new conceptual framework in order to gain a better understanding of the emerging pattern of international competition, the process of forming new capabilities, and the development prospects of countries that are striving to improve their positions in various global industries [6]. As an important carrier of regional economic development [1], industrial clusters’ ability to participate in international industrial

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