A CURE FOR LONELINESS - NETWORKS, TRUST, AND SHARED SERVICES IN BANGALORE

'Flexible specialisation' happens when clusters of smaller firms co-op erate in production, marketing, and product development. This requires trust, and/or collective provision of 'real services.' Bangalore's sm aller engineering and electronic firms work for larger firms, but some develop their own products. Engineers and workers are quality-conscio us; innovation is market-led. Entrepreneurs are often too suspicious t o co-operate or share information, but there are productive friendship s and consortia. Firms benefit from 'real services.' What are the base s and limits of trust? Can 'real services' make up for lack of trust? This study is relevant to other countries with large labour surpluses.