The authors develop a framework to explain the differential benefits accruing to firms that locate in or near a relevant cluster. The results indicate that distance from a relevant cluster is negatively related to growth for all firms in the sample, but clustering has a greater impact on firms that rely heavily on tacit knowledge spillovers.
Link
http://www.sfubusiness.ca/homes/imccarth/motresearch/Papers/cluster_and_growth_wp.pdf#search=%22Role%20of%20Clustering%20in%20the%20Growth%20(and%20survival)%20of%20Fast%20Growing%20U.S%20High-Tech%20Firms%22