Clusters as a tool for companies' performance increasing: A comparison of conditions for establishment and development of clusters in the U.S.A, Austria, and the Czech Republic

Abstract

This paper is focused on opportunities for increasing the performance of small and medium-sized companies in the environment of globalization and, particularly, by concentrating production through joining a cluster. Clusters' establishment and development under different conditions of the U.S., Austrian and Czech economies, and cluster policies are described and discussed. Finally, short case studies of selected clusters with plastic firms established in these countries are presented and conclusions for advantages of clusters existence for companies' and regional development are given.