Copying or co-operating?; Inter-firm relations in a garment agglomeration in Lima, Peru.

Abstract

In developing countries, agglomerations of firms can play an important role in the generation of employment, higher incomes and dynamic development in the concerned regions or cities. This study aims at determining the quality of governance between firms (and other actors) in an agglomeration of garment firms in Lima, Peru. Therefore, it may contribute to the development of firms in the Gamarra district and may even contribute to the development of Peru in general. Previous studies find that so-called agglomeration advantages are mainly passive in Gamarra (transactional advantages) and almost never dynamic (e.g. knowledge exchange). Many problems exist regarding innovation, internationalization, infrastructure and (private-public) co-operation. This follow-up study provides insight knowledge concerning the coordination in Gamarra by undertaking a survey among a group of experts, using interviews that administered questionnaires covering the important aspects.