Mapping shipbuilding clusters in Tuscany: main features and policy implications

Abstract

The subject of cluster identification takes on a new value today: it is no more only a methodological question, but a point of tactical importance, since both firms and regional administrations are founding their present policies on cluster-based localization strategies. The shipbuilding industry constitutes an interesting case study, being generally clustered and having a peculiar localization near harbour infrastructures. The Italian peninsula has a very active traditional shipbuilding industry, which developed in industrial districts and represents a leading made-in-Italy sector. Using the methodology of local labour systems, we identify, in particular, the clusters of pleasure and sporting boat building in Tuscany – a major player in this industry – and offer support to policy-makers and economic actors to develop the most appropriate policies and strategies for this sector. After the introduction, in Section 2, we briefly illustrate the competitive advantages of clustering and recall the attention to the need of a suitable methodology of cluster identification. In Section 3 we illustrate the method used and the widened notion of nautical filière adopted, while in Section 4 we present and discuss the main results obtained both for Italy and Tuscany. Finally, we offer some conclusive remarks and regional policy implications.