Clusters, linkages and regional spillovers:Methodology and Policy Implications for the Two Dutch Mainports and the Rural North

This paper develops a consistent framework to detect regional clusters of interrelated economic activity, and to evaluate both the regional and the national economic significance of individual sectors and regions. By using bi-regional input-output data it appears to be possible to distinguish systematically between intraregional clusters and linkages, and their interregional spillovers. The methodology is applied to three Dutch regions that are especially important from a spatial policy perspective. The conclusions, surprisingly, do not substantiate some of the traditional beliefs held, especially as regards the assumed importance of the Dutch transport sector