Knowledge in the air and cooperation between firms: Traditions of secrecy and the reluctant emergence of specialization in the ceramic manufacturing district of Lampang, Thailand

Weeranan Kamnungwut () and Frederick Guy

No 1108, Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) from Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography

Abstract: In the study of industrial clusters, the relative importance, and possible interrelationship, of inter-firm cooperation in production and broad knowledge transfers (both unintentional spillovers and intentional sharing) have long been disputed. To shed light on this we study ceramic tableware manufacturers in the city of Lampang, Thailand. Data consist of face-to-face interviews with principals in thirty-four manufacturers, and with representatives of supporting institutions. We find that an unwillingness to share knowledge with potential competitors retards the development of specialization in production; the outcome of efforts by various government actors and some manufacturers to change this situation is uncertain.

Keywords: ceramic manufacturing; knowledge; Lampang; networks; secrecy; Thailand (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D85 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 36 pages
Date: 2011-05, Revised 2011-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse, nep-hme, nep-knm and nep-sea
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:egu:wpaper:1108

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