Integrated Approach for Assessing the Economic Security of a Cluster

Abstract

The aim of the study is to develop scientific and methodological recommendations that can contribute to the timely identification of real and potential economic threats in a cluster. In present-day conditions, clusterization is one of the most effective ways to overcome systemic challenges and crisis phenomena in the economy. Integration of independent organizations into clusters, based on principles of localization, integration and synergy, has the purpose of increasing their competitiveness. At the same time, cluster functioning is connected to various risks and threats that reduce sustainable development and affect the level of economic security of both the cluster and its participants. During the research, general scientific methods, such as the generalization, synthesis and analysis of the accumulated scientific results were evaluated in terms of ensuring the economic security of organizations, including their cluster. A number of techniques and methods were applied to develop the proposed integrated approach to assessing the economic security of clusters: typology, identification, rating-and-scores, and the indicative method. A critical assessment of the existing methods for assessing the economic security of clusters was given. It was revealed that the main drawback of these methods is that they do not consider the complicated internal management structure of a cluster. We created a methodology for assessing the economic security of a cluster, which is characterized by a comprehensive approach considering all the possible risks and threats in the functioning of the individual components of the cluster structure.