Cluster initiatives are intended to promote employment growth, innovation and entrepreneurship. To date, research into clusters has not tended to focus on social cohesion within the operating regions of the clusters.

Social cohesion is key when economic growth coexists with deprivation, poverty and inequality. By developing a system dynamic model, the speakers sought to understand the economic and social dynamics within clusters in terms of both economic performance and social cohesion.

In this talk, Dr Rocha and Dr Kunc will discuss their findings that clusters with positive economic performance can reduce social cohesion and their conclusion that strong social integration among workers in clusters can counteract this impact.