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Contemporary Influences on International Business in Latin America pp 125–153Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Internationalization and the Tale of the Cabo Frio Beachwear Cluster

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Part of the book series: AIB Latin America ((AIBLAT))

Abstract

This chapter analyses the trajectory of the Cabo Frio beachwear cluster in Brazil. Departing from the extant literature on cluster evolution, the study describes the stages of birth, take-off, growth, and maturity of the cluster, focusing specifically on the attempts to develop exporting activities. The results suggest that the lack of cooperation among local firms is the major reason behind the inability to internationalize, although one cannot dismiss the negative effects of the overvalued Brazilian currency, as well as aspects internal to the firms. Change agents have tried to introduce new practices and attitudes toward cooperation in the cluster, but failed to do so. The key issue, therefore, is why the firms in the cluster failed to cooperate, despite several initiatives and investments to promote collective actions. The chapter advances some possible explanations, with implications for other Brazilian clusters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Beatriz Kury, Angela da Rocha & Jorge Ferreira da Silva

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  1. Beatriz Kury
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  2. Angela da Rocha
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  3. Jorge Ferreira da Silva
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Correspondence to Beatriz Kury .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of International Business, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA

    William Newburry

  2. Libens Research and Development, Santiago, Chile

    Leonardo Liberman

  3. Business Administration Department, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Moacir de Miranda Oliveira Jr.

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Kury, B., da Rocha, A., da Silva, J.F. (2019). Internationalization and the Tale of the Cabo Frio Beachwear Cluster. In: Newburry, W., Liberman, L., Oliveira Jr., M. (eds) Contemporary Influences on International Business in Latin America. AIB Latin America. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98340-0_6

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