Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to develop a conceptual framework that allows the identification of locational resources and the analysis of the value creation potential for companies located in a cross-border cluster. Thus, cross-border clusters are conceptualized as cross-border value adding webs. To achieve this aim, the resource-based view of clusters, rooted in the resource-based view of the firm, is further developed to enable a differentiated analysis of locational resources of cross-border clusters from a firm-level perspective. Locational resources encompass regional resources (natural resources, infrastructures etc.), industry characteristics (e.g. bargaining power) and institutional resources (formal and informal institutional characteristics). These locational resources are especially of interest for the analysis of cross-border clusters, because they also consider the heterogeneous structure of cross-border regions. This chapter is a starting point to open up the black box of firm value creation in cross-border clusters and thereby provides a differentiated view regarding potential benefits of being located in a cross-border cluster from a theoretical point of view.