Abstract
Clusters are recognized as important drivers of competitiveness and economic development. There are various models of clusters development all over the world, some of which may be initiated bottom-up by private firms, as in most European countries, or top-down by public administrations. In the case of Asian clusters, many are driven by foreign direct investments (FDI), with the most notable example being China. The objective of this study is to examine the Super Cluster strategy introduced in Thailand in 2015, especially in terms of the rationale and mechanism for selecting assisted clusters as well as the instruments used to support them. The goal is to contribute to a more in-depth formulation of the Asian model of clusters and cluster policy. The conducted analysis shows that Thai strategy deviates from traditional bottom-up approaches to cluster policy, veering towards the top-down approach in which government designates targeted regions and industries for the development of clusters. Another finding is that the Super Cluster strategy shares more common characteristics with Special Economic Zones (SEZ) than it does with the traditional approach to cluster policy in terms of its main objective of attracting foreign direct investments (FDI), securing support mechanisms as well as in the selection of target areas and the type of instruments to be implemented. The experience of Thailand is discussed along with that of other Asian countries, most notably China, in order to identify and verify the characteristics of the Asian model of clusters and cluster policy.
Highlights
Over the last three decades the concept of clusters has emerged as an important research topic in contemporary economics, both as a business model for the activities of companies and as an economic policy instrument
This paper discusses the topic of clusters and cluster policy with a focus on the latest developments in the Super Cluster strategy in Thailand
The experience of different countries, especially in Asia, demonstrate the variations of cluster policy, some of which significantly deviate from the original approach presented by Porter
Summary
Over the last three decades the concept of clusters has emerged as an important research topic in contemporary economics, both as a business model for the activities of companies and as an economic policy instrument. The economic success of many regional economies which have developed prosperous cluster structures is an incentive for public authorities in different parts of the world to formulate strategies towards the implementation of programs which support clustering processes. This concept has inspired the government of Thailand, which initiated a Super Cluster strategy in 2015. The history of cluster policy in Thailand may be traced back to 2002, when a provincial cluster development policy was launched in the Ninth National Economic and Social Development Plan for 2002-06, the aim of which was to develop clusters in each province as self-contained settlements. The Eleventh National Economic and Social Development Plan for 2012-16 highlighted the need to support the development of innovative businesses through cluster development by strengthening links and cooperation among businesses along the supply chain
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