Publications by Pierre Desrochers

Publications by Pierre Desrochers

Silicon Somewhere: A Critique of Cluster Policy image

Silicon Somewhere: A Critique of Cluster Policy

Frederic Sautet, Pierre Desrochers, Gert-Jan Hospers | Dec 31, 2008
The fundamental idea of this paper is that government is not and cannot be the source of successful clustering. While clustering is valuable to the economy, governments do not have access to the knowledge that would enable them to promote the successful development of clusters. We view this epistemic problem bureaucrats face as insurmountable; if anything, it puts a clear limit on the capacity of government to create clusters.
The Invisible Green Hand image

The Invisible Green Hand

Pierre Desrochers, Andrew Reed | Oct 24, 2008
This Policy Primer argues that corporate self-interest and environmental stewardship are compatible.
Yes We Have No Bananas: A Critique of the 'Food Miles' Perspective image

Yes We Have No Bananas: A Critique of the 'Food Miles' Perspective

Pierre Desrochers, Hiroko Shimizu | Oct 24, 2008
This Policy Primer examines the origins and validity of the food miles concept.
Diversity and the Case Against Specialized Clusters image

Diversity and the Case Against Specialized Clusters

Frederic Sautet, Pierre Desrochers, Gert-Jan Hospers | Sep 15, 2008
Building on insights that have long been known to regional development specialists and on more recent ones, this essay reexamines the case against regional specialization by pointing out that it is more likely to result in economic downturns, to prevent the spontaneous creation of inter-industry linkages, and to hamper the creation of innovative ideas through the combination of existing know-how and artifacts than a more diversified economic base.

The Next Silicon Valley? On the Relationship Between Geographical Clustering and Public Policy

Frederic Sautet, Pierre Desrochers, Gert-Jan Hospers | Aug 29, 2008
This paper critically assesses the relationship between geographical clustering and public policy. With the help of a range of theoretical insights and case study examples we show that cluster policy in fact is a risky\ venture, especially when it is tried to copy the success of regional ‘best practices’.

Entrepreneurial Policy: The Case of Regional Specialization Vs. Spontaneous Industrial Diversity

Frederic Sautet, Pierre Desrochers | Aug 29, 2008
Regional economic development policy is recognized as a key tool governments use to foster economic prosperity. Whether specialization (or diversity) of economic activities should be a regional development policy goal is often debated. This paper addresses this question in a local-diversity context, by reviewing traditional arguments in its favor, supplemented with evidence for more entrepreneurial concepts like industrial symbiosis and Jacobs externalities.