Analysis of the Impact of German Cluster Policy on the Regional Economic Development

Germany is considered to be one of the countries which successfully conducts cluster policy within its borders. Cluster policy and cluster initiatives together, especially innovative ones, create the competitive advantage of the German economy since they enhance economic interrelations and innovation. Inasmuch as the theoretical aspects of German cluster policy are profoundly investigated by scholars, this study focuses on the practical side of the issue, which is slightly less explored. The purpose of the research is to investigate the correlation between the existence of the innovative cluster structures and the level of economic development of German federal states. For this exact purpose, the cluster analysis method is applied to factual economic data to introduce a grouping of German federal states according to their cluster and economic development. Based on the classification of federal states, the inference regarding the economic disparity of German regions is made. Furthermore, the study evaluates the prospects of implementing the German approach to cluster policy in Russia. The findings of this study might be applicable both in the research and political field.