Forming the Approaches to the Classification of Cluster Structures and Port Clusters

Abstract

The article is aimed at generalizing the world practice along with forming the approaches to classifying clusters, including port clusters, introducing clusterization into the activities of Ukrainian ports in order to solve urgent problems of the port industry. The article uses general scientific methods: analysis and synthesis, deduction, grouping, structural and system analyses. Both domestic and foreign literature on types and features of cluster formation is analyzed; the process of cluster development at different stages is defined; a generalized table with different approaches to the classification of clusters, including port clusters, is formed; the possibilities of creating port clusters in Ukraine are considered. It is determined that the most important criteria for classification of clusters are: industry affiliation (woodworking, financial, tourism, pharmaceutical enterprises); development factors (demand-oriented, located in the place of availability of labor resources and these, the location of which is first determined by natural factors); the stage of cluster development; the internal structure of the cluster; the way the cluster appears; the scale of cluster activity. As for port clusters, the economic substantiation for the creation of a port cluster should represent the demand for a certain cargo base. Therefore, it is advisable to analyze the cargo flow to determine its discreteness. The practical significance of the article lies in the fact that the proposed classification features of clusters in general and port clusters in particular allow determining the vector of direction for introducing the best solutions in Ukrainian port activities. The advantage of introducing the cluster conception into the maritime economic complex of Ukraine will be the promotion of holistic development and growth of the innovativeness of the industry. Thanks to this, it is possible to achieve economic effects, as well as increase the competitiveness of Ukrainian ports.