Spatial Patterns of Blue Economy Firms in the South of Italy

Abstract

This study aims to measure the Blue Economy (BE) through the methodology of cluster analysis with a multiscalar approach. For this purpose, the Orbis database is used, building a sample of firms subjected to aggregation operations. The sample investigated is enriched by additional firm indicators offered by the platform (such as Value Added), where these are available. The Authors have identified the supply chains of the sea, consisting only of consolidated sectors, through the lines dictated by the European Commission. Moreover, in order to bring out the territorial dynamics of the maritime clusters, the Authors have selected individual business activities with details of firm information at the NUTS 2 and NUTS 3 scale, ascribing the analysis exclusively to the Mezzogiorno area. The contribution to this paper is the result of the joint work of the Authors, to which the paper has to be attributed in equal parts.