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Research on regional economic development increasingly embraces more nuanced perspectives on the evolution of clusters, industries and agglomerations. The extent to which the emergence and decline of clusters can be directed with intentional regional development strategies is, however, a major point of discussion. The article links the cluster life cycle concept to regional development strategies in order to examine the trajectory of Europe's largest chemical complex in and around the Port of Antwerp (Belgium). This chemical cluster has matured and currently is in a state of stability. Although the cluster did not experience growth over the last decades in terms of new entrants, it did transform internally and maintained its importance as a production centre. Thus, whereas lock-in mechanisms hampered growth, they also prevented the cluster from going into a state of decline. We argue that while regional development strategies stimulated new emerging clusters in the Flemish region, vested interests in the port and associated lock-in mechanisms have resisted such developments in Antwerp. New growth trajectories based on the chemical cluster were therefore difficult to recreate in the Antwerp region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is problematic to think of globalization as a new phenomenon and to believe that the phenomenon of a world city, embedded in the global division of labor, is a 20th century novelty. World city literature in sociology often emphasizes, if not assumes, the relatively recent emergence of world cities in the 'new' international division of labor. Sixteenth century Antwerp, however, was the first world city of an expanding capitalist world economy. Understanding this phenomenon and its decline can raise important questions about the modus operandi of subsequent world cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By means of an in-depth analysis of 132 partnership agreements, which had been notarized in the city of Antwerp between 1480 and 1620, the present article aspires to provide a substantiated narrative on the use as well as legal features of private partnerships in the early modern Low Countries. In so doing, it became apparent that such small-scale partnerships constituted an effective means in the hands of, mostly non-related, merchants and craftsmen who were looking for legal certainty. Moreover, the examination of these partnership agreements demonstrated the wide-ranging contractual freedom that contracting parties in sixteenth-century Antwerp could dispose of and that therefore historical reality not necessarily complies with legal ideas and concepts provided for by legislative or statutory documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indebted cities were a widespread phenomenon during the Ancien Régime. However, some found ways to innovate the management of their municipal debt, whilst others fell prey to over-indebtedness or default. In this article we have left the success stories aside and focused on the latter. Using early modern Antwerp as a case study, we have disentangled the underlying mechanisms that ultimately lead to over-indebtedness and (in some cases) default. Whilst the economic climate and the relationship between city and state have been rightly identified as major factors in the previous literature, our contribution brings another element to the table, namely, the inflexibility of long-established rent arrangements and the entanglement between the ruling elite and the rentiers. We show that there was a strong overlap between both groups, which had a huge impact on the financial policy of cities during the early modern period. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the role of the Jesuits and of the Catholic church more generally in producing 17th century Latin documents about the city of Antwerp, Belgium. It also describes these documents' value as historical sources. Among other topics addressed are the Jesuit priest Carolus Scribani who published many of the documents, the role of the Jesuits in Antwerp of the time, and the economic and political influence of the Jesuits throughout Europe.

The article discusses the artisanal glassmaking industry in Antwerp, Belgium during the early modern period, with particular focus on the determination of value of glass pieces. Other topics include the spread of the glass industry from Venice, Italy, the translations of various Italian technical works on glassmaking subjects such as recipes, alchemy, and chalcedony glass, and how these translations were used to build the glass industry and increase Antwerp's influence as a world cultural center.

The article discusses the role of translations of foreign works in the book industry of Antwerp, Belgium, during the 15th century. It describes these translations as including religious works, music books, and literature. Among other topics addressed are the tole of illustrations, the use of books to disseminate practical knowledge, and the practical aspects of printing including typography.

The article discusses the 16th century silver-working trade in Antwerp, Belgium. In particular, it describes both the silver artwork produced in that trade and the trade's influence on other artwork such as painting. Among other topics discussed are popularity of the religious motif of the gifts of the Magi and how that image was associated with the city, how artwork was economically valued, and the stock exchange in Antwerp.

This paper analyses the globalization trends affecting Antwerp as a port city. Mainly, we analyse the public policies implemented at different levels of governance in the new context of globalization (from EU to local level). However, in contrast to other authors, we argue that globalization is both shaped by political decisions and in return imposes new constraints to public policies, notably at the local level. Using the Antwerp case, we show first how EU and regional policies have supported globalization trends by favouring liberalization policies in port matters or by reinforcing local autonomies in urban matters. Second, we show in return how local authorities with growing competences have, in a more competitive and global context, been constrained to answer to this new environment by shifting toward entrepreneurial policies. By reshaping their image or opening the port to investors, the attraction of new investors has been a major objective of urban or port policies in the city of Antwerp. Resumen. Este artículo analiza las tendencias de globalización que afectan Amberes como ciudad portuaria. Principalmente, analizamos las políticas públicas implementadas a diferentes niveles de gobernanza dentro del nuevo contexto de globalización (desde la escala de la UE a la local). Sin embargo, en contraste con otros autores, argumentamos que la globalización viene moldeada por decisiones políticas y que a cambio impone nuevas restricciones en cuanto a políticas públicas, especialmente a escala local. Utilizando el caso de Amberes, primero mostramos como las políticas de la UE y las regionales han apoyado tendencias de globalización, al favorecer políticas de liberalización en materia portuaria, o reforzando autonomías locales en temas urbanos. Segundo, mostramos en cambio como las autoridades locales, al ver aumentadas sus competencias en un contexto más competitivo y global, se han visto obligadas a responder a este nuevo ambiente con un cambio hacia políticas con espíritu emprendedor. Por medio de la reforma de su imagen o la apertura del puerto a inversores, la atracción de nueva inversión por parte de las políticas urbanas o portuarias ha sido un objetivo principal en la ciudad de Amberes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the interplay between retail changes and transformations in the material culture of Antwerp, a provincial town in the southern Netherlands. We argue that major changes in the eighteenth-century material culture and retail sector were not significantly linked to preconditions of economic growth and urbanization. The Antwerp ‘retail paradox’ is that of a shrinking economic horizon running parallel to material culture and retail transformations, usually connected to expanding urban economies and societies. Changing retail and consumer practices explain the growing and prospering retail sector, rather than a growing economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this assessment of the intersection of trade, picturing collections and knowledge-making in Early Modern Antwerp, the focus is on the role of luxury glass, mirror and lens technology and the science of optics. Emphasizing the social ties that facilitated these intersections, it is argued that newly invented luxury goods such as the pictures of collections and the art cabinets allowed Antwerp craftsmen, artists and art dealers to export the message that the material objects in which they traded were objects of knowledge: not to everyone, however, but to those who desired membership of a select community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]