A Multi-Layer Analysis of Effective Clusters In Regional Development Policy. A Case Study on Poland

Abstract

Regional development policy in the past years is increasingly dominated by cluster strategies. This means a dedicated orientation towards selective industrial initiatives (often of a high-tech and cognitive nature). In the present study the notion of effective cluster – characterized by intense social and human capital is introduced as a systematic framework for assessing regional development policy. The paper presents a specific tool, viz., a Balanced Dashboard, to offer an operational evaluation instrument based on a multidimensional policy perspective. The relevance of this approach is illustrated by means of a multi-layer application of the proposed analytical framework to the Aviation Valley in the Podkarpackie region in South-East Poland.