Journal
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
Volume 4, Issue 4, Pages 351-370Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1093/jnlecg/lbh027
Keywords
agglomeration; clustering; urban economics; face-to-face
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This paper argues that existing models of urban concentrations are incomplete unless grounded in the most fundamental aspect of proximity; face-to-face contact. Face-to-face contact has four main features: it is an efficient communication technology; it can help solve incentive problems; it can facilitate socialization and learning; and it provides psychological motivation. We discuss each of these features in turn, and develop formal economic models of two of them. Face-to-face is particularly important in environments where information is imperfect, rapidly changing, and not easily codified, key features of many creative activities.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available