Resource-based Industry Clusters. Study On Sustainable Development

Under the context of economic globalization and the concepts of scientific development, the sustainable development of natural resources has become a hot topic of theoretical study due to the urgent practical needs. At present, most studies on sustainable development of natural resources have been conducted, on both macro and micro levels, from such point of views as the value of natural resources, the assets of natural resources, the property rights of natural resources, the pricing of natural resources, the accounting of natural resources, the markets of natural resources and the transformation of resource-based city, the 'middle-scope' studies on the organization of natural resource industries from the view of industrial cluster are quite limited. Industrial cluster, as an effective industrial organization paradigm, is increasingly becoming the policy-tool of governments. Therefore, a systematic study of resource-based industrial cluster bears feature of theoretical innovation as well as practical guiding significance.In this dissertation, based on resource economics, theory of industry structure, regional economics, and theories of system science, etc, the concept of resource-based industrial cluster and its sustainable development were defined from the view of complex system theory by analyzing of the concepts and characteristics of resources. The study points out that the sustainable development of resource-based industrial cluster is, technically speaking, the process of the continuous increase in the competitiveness of the resource-based industrial cluster. In another words, resource-based industrial cluster, under the rigid restraints of resource endowment and entironment, with self-regulation and innovation as its driving force, accomplishes its upgrading and transformation, thus realizing the maximization of its life-cycle and the harmonious and all-round development of resources, environment, economy and society.A systematic analysis was carried out, both quantitatively and qualitatively, on such aspects as the conception of resource-based industrial cluster, its lifecycle, its dynamics, as well as its competence. Based on theoretical analysis, empirical studies were carried out on three typical resource-based industrial cluster cities—Shanbei, Kailuan, and Datong. Meanwhile, a detailed case study was based on the Energy and Chemical Industry Base of Shanbei. The contributions of this dissertation are as follows: 1. By use of systems analysis method, a dynamics model for resource-based industrial cluster was constructed, and the internal dynamics, the external dynamics as well as the core competence as a result of the interaction of both dynamics were analyzed. Meanwhile, the systematic characteristics of resource-based industrial cluster were analyzed from views of main body, conduct and performance.2. Through modeling the evolution of resource-based industrial cluster, the lifecycle model of resource-based industrial cluster was worked out, with a detailed description of the characteristics of each stage. Based on the lifecycle model, SD-model for the upgrading and transformation of resource-based industrial cluster was constructed.3. Using analytic hierarchy process (AHP), a evaluation index system of the competence of resource-based industrial cluster was constructed. Meanwhile, the contrasting analyses between Kailuan and Datong and the case study on the Energy and Chemical Industry Base of Shanbei was conducted based on the theories of resource-based industrial cluster. Some advices on policies of sustainable development were provided about resource-based industrial cluster.