Title: The flowchart model of cluster policy: the automobile industry clusters in China

Authors: Akifumi Kuchiki

Addresses: Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization, 3-2-2, Wakaba, Mihamaku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 261-8545, Japan

Abstract: This paper proposes a general model of the flowchart approach to industrial cluster policy and applies this model to the automobile industry clusters of Guangzhou and Tianjin in China. The flowchart approach to industrial cluster policy is an action plan for prioritising policy measures in a time-ordered series. We reached the following two conclusions. First, we clarified the effects of Honda, Nissan, and Toyota in Guangzhou and the effect of Toyota in Tianjin on the automobile industry clustering. Second, we established that local governments play a crucial role in successful industrial cluster policy, and that the mayor of the local government should be offered incentives to target industrial clustering and implement cluster policy.

Keywords: cluster policy prioritisation; policy measures linearisation; flowchart modelling; inductive methods; anchor firms; capacity; automobile industry; automotive clusters; China; industry clusters; Honda; Nissan; Toyota; local government.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2008.018202

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2008 Vol.8 No.1/2, pp.63 - 95

Published online: 11 May 2008 *

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