Problems and Perspectives in Management, 3/2004 72 Clustering in the British Broadcasting and Financial Services Industries: A Comparative Analysis of Three Regions1

This paper reports on clustering in British broadcasting and financial services industries in three British cities. Econometric evidence indicates that the dynamics of clustering in these ser-vice industries are very similar to those found in high technology manufacturing. The study also draws on 126 interviews with senior managers and policy-makers conducted during 2001 and 2002 and numerous secondary sources. We find that whilst both industries appear to have similari-ties in terms of greater rates of innovation and new firm start-ups, the underlying mechanisms are very different. Moreover, both differences in cluster type and cluster depth explain differences in cluster performance among different regions. Key words: industrial clusters; growth; entry; broadcasting industry; financial services industry. 1