A Study of Clusters in the Manufacture of Chocolate, Candy and their Raw Materials in Colombia, 2010 – 2015

Abstract

The study of the spatial concentration of interconected firms, or clusters, has drawn special attention in the current economic literature due to its numerous potential benefits. Berumen (2010), for example, finds that clusters generate more productivity and employment. The identification of potential clusters thus allows the formulation and targeting of productive development policies, which enhance growth in sectorial value chains. This study seeks to identify the existence of a cluster in the Colombian cocoa, chocolate, confectionery and raw materials sector between 2010 and 2015 by georeferencing and the application of the spatial autocorrelation tool (Global Moran’s Index) with respect to the indicators of sales. No cluster was found in the chocolate sector. According to Malmberg and Maskell (2002), knowledge spillovers are internal characteristics of clusters. In the present case we did not find a significant pattern of evolutionary or persistent learning curves within and between firms in the sector for the period under study.