Economic science / 16. Macroeconomics

Lubianitskii Pavel Yurievich

Rostov State University of Economics

Functions and powers of the Commission of the EU on stimulation of development of clusters.

Competition is one of the broadest concepts of the modern life. At the present time, competition is understood as the contest between business entities of market relations for the best conditions and results of commercial activity.

During the period of the world crisis, the competition can become the catalyzer of its overcoming. Moreover, it can demonstrate the leap in the economic development. Thus, the economic science has faced the tasks connected with the elaboration of the mechanism of improving quality and transparency of the competition, development of methods of the economic crisis overcoming which would provide the sustainable growth and competitive recovery at all the levels.

These targets can be reached with the help of elaboration and development of cluster schemes which actually are like cross-industry networks playing the role of starting points of state economies. At the same time, clusters allow overcoming structural restrictions and the multi-industry production structure which has been formed in a number of economic entities. All these factors have predetermined the choice of the topic of the present investigation and its topicality. It should be marked that there are no any comprehensive approach to clusters formation in works of foreign and Russian specialists.

The topicality of the identified problem and necessity of studying its certain aspects have predetermined the purpose and main tasks of the investigation.

The object of the investigation is consideration of clusters as an instrument of the active economic policy providing competitive ability of the economy within the open market conditions.

The purpose of the paper is consideration of clusters as the form of increasing the level of competitive ability and consideration of clusters development in the countries of the EU, Customs Union, and Common Economic Space.

In the end of 90’s of the 20^th century, the cluster approach to the regional industrial development has started forming in the EU.

Initially, clusters of different countries represented the “accumulation” of companies and firms which had appreciated the economically advantageous location in the geographic proximity to each other for the purpose of saving expenditures in the curse of the transportation of resources and complement parts for the end product manufacturing. Later, it has been found that the availability of institutions dealing with research and development in close proximity is strategically advantageous.

Thus, in 80’s, in the Western Europe, the key principle of the cluster approach was discovered, i.e. close cooperation of manufacturing companies and scientific environment.

Later, that interrelation between business and science has been supplemented with the interaction with local administrations which have appreciated the potential of the cluster approach and have started providing substantial assistance to the emerging clusters. As the result, the triple helix principle has been formed. It has become the basis for the modern development of clusters. This principle is the cross point of such main institutes like a country, business, and science.

Currently, in the EU, countries provide the stimulating influence on the clusters development. But with that, the state does not initiate creation of clusters. It only promotes creation of favourable conditions by means of efficient tax, budget, credit, and customs policy, and also via creation of advanced research-and-development centers, universities, transport and energy infrastructure, etc. which in its turn provides introducing more competitive goods to the market.

For example: if the manufacturing company takes a credit in Germany for the purchase and installation of new equipment, then 50% of this credit is paid by the state represented by the administration of respective lands.

In 2000’s, upon successful institutionalization of regional clusters which have showed increase of the level of competition in the European Union, the countries held the course for their further development. It is said in the program of economic development “Europe-2020”. It is intended to intensify within this period financial support of clusters within the frameworks of the national strategy of innovative development and by means of stimulating programs of the European Commission.

Responsible structural subdivisions on the development and implementation of clusters development programs is The Directorate-General (DG) for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship. The Directorate coordinates and improves various interstate initiatives (Initiative Pro INNO Europe) and implements practical instruments which promote development of interaction between clusters of EU countries with the purpose of increasing economic development via development of competitive abilities of economies.

EU experience shows that the well-coordinated policy based on the operable institutes of its growth stimulation is required for solving tasks of increasing competitive ability of innovative products on the stage of deep economic integration of the countries.

EU experience can be the basis of forming a similar mechanism within the frameworks of developing the cluster approach in the Common Economic Space.

In the Russian Federation, the cluster approach is included to the Concept of the long-term social and economic development till 2010.

The following key instruments are used for the support of pilot programs of development of 25 innovative territorial clusters:

1. Providing subsidies to the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation for the purposes of implementation of measures provided by programs of pilot clusters development;

2. Providing support to the implementation of measures of the programs of pilot clusters development within the frameworks of the federal target programs and governmental programs of the Russian Federation;

3. Attracting state development institutes to the implementation of programs of pilot clusters development;

4. Stimulating participation of large companies with public ownership implementing programs of innovative development.

An example of the successfully developing cluster in Russia is the city of Kaluga with active production of cars and vehicle components. The basis of it has been formed by such companies as Volkswagen, Volvo Truck, alliance of Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi Motors.

Existing developments can become the basis for cooperation between member states of the Customs Union and Common Economic Space.

But in spite of obvious advantages of the cluster approach, it has certain drawbacks, namely: the probability of corruption in bureaucratic institutions and conflict between separate adjoining ministries and departments in the course of the state regulation of clusters, occurrence of the companies blocking effect.

In view of the above said, we can conclude that the cluster policy is really efficient for increasing the level of competitive ability of countries of the EU, Customs Union, and Common Economic Space. That is why arrangement of clusters during the period of the economic crisis is an important aspect for increasing economic development of states and improvement of their economies.

References

1. Clusters, as a new form of competitive relations in the modern economy [digital resource] http://referatwork.ru/refs/source/ref-122446.html

2. https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%EE%ED%EA%F3%F0%E5%ED%F6%E8%FF [digital resource]

3. World economic forum http://www.vigorconsult.ru/resources/global-competitiveness/ [digital resource]