ABSTRACT
A complementary strand of research stresses the relational aspects of clusters, by analyzing the agents’ behaviors as part of a network structure and explaining innovation in terms of network’s topology and measures (Cowan and Jonard 2004). We want to add to this picture in three ways:
• by adopting a cognitive perspective that differentiates between image and reputation in terms of individuals’ belief configurations;
• by assuming that gossip may promote innovation intended as the exchange of useful information;
• by exploring the relationship between those two evaluations and the resulting networks, especially with regard to the strength of ties.
