Disentangling agglomeration and network externalities : a conceptual typology

Agglomeration and network externalities are fuzzy concepts. When different meanings are (un)intentionally juxtaposed in analyses of the agglomeration/network externalities-menagerie, researchers may reach inaccurate conclusions about how they interlock. Both externality types can be analytically combined, but only when one adopts a coherent approach to their conceptualization and operationalization, to which end we provide a combinatorial typology. We illustrate the typology by applying a state-of-the-art bipartite network projection detailing the presence of globalized producer services firms in cities in 2012. This leads to two one-mode graphs that can be validly interpreted as topological renderings of agglomeration and network externalities

Short trips and central places: the home-school distances in the Flemish primary education system (Belgium)

This paper was published in the journal Applied Geography and the definitive published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2014.06.025.This paper examines the extent to which home-school trip length in northern Belgium is influenced by the spatial distribution of the school sites, and to what extent this distribution contemporarily functions according to propositions of central place theory. Furthermore, from a sustainable mobility perspective, it is evaluated if the primary school network's density supports a daily urban system based on short distances. The results indicate that the overall system's density meets the requirements of a non-motorized system, while the distribution confirms central place mechanisms. The majority of the pupils live within walking or cycling distance from their school, while opportunities exist to further reduce this distance by choosing an alternative school. However, depending on the structure of the concerned settlement, school accessibility varies considerably. Finally, the results suggest that recent increases in school trip length and motorization are mainly caused by non-spatial factors

On geography’s skewed transnationalization, anglophone hegemony, and qualified optimism toward an engaged pluralist future; A reply to Hassink, Gong and Marques

This reply to Hassink, Gong and Marques’ ‘Moving beyond Anglo-American economic geography’ raises several issues relevant to formulating a unified paradigm that escapes Anglo-American bias. First, the reply identifies different meanings of Anglo-American dominance that do not necessarily align. Remedying concerns that engage with the problems of anglophone hegemony do not necessarily solve institutional issues of Anglo-American dominance, exclusions of contributors, places and viewpoints, or postcolonial critiques. Second, the essay investigates the origins of anglophone dominance, how the skewed transnationalization of geographical practice came about, to excavate solutions from geography’s past. Based on these assessments, several epistemological issues are brought up that might hamper development of a unified paradigm. The reply concludes with encouragement to engage in the Sisyphean labour associated with the quest toward a unified paradigm for economic geography

Learning by bumping: Pathways of Dutch SMEs to foreign direct investment in Asia

This paper investigates how eleven Dutch small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) transnationalised with East and Southeast Asian economies by means of establishing a foreign subsidiary. The study's aim is to elucidate how firms learned to become a transnational corporation and to gauge the relevance of the firm's external networks in the acquisition of the appropriate knowledge. The paper conceptualises SME transnationalisation as an organisational process that can be understood by theories developed in innovation studies. Through qualitative research on transnationalisation pathways, inferences are drawn on the skills and routines that are necessary to bridge institutional differences and the process by which these skills are acquired and routinised within the firm

The role of agglomeration economies for SME transnationalisation: Bypassing the global urban service nexus?

A growing number of West European Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) attempt to reap the benefits of low production costs and growing demand in emerging Asian economies, by way of firm transnationalization. Successful transnationalization entails adaptation to completely different institutional environments. This requires the acquisition of both foreign knowledge and social networks. The economic geography literature tends to stress the importance of agglomeration externalities in this regard, since it is in large agglomerations where transnational connections are common. This paper gauges the the role of agglomeration externalities for eleven Dutch transnational SMEs that built a subsidiary in East or Southeast Asia. Contrary to expectations, agglomeration externalities in the home environment played a limited role. The researched SMEs source knowledge abroad, on conferences and with their non-local suppliers. Advanced producer services played a very modest role in this regard: the global urban service nexus emphasized by world cities research is often circumvented. As such, the findings of this paper do not corroborate the idea that regional resilience in less urbanized areas ought to stem from embracing urbanization. Instead, analyzing resilience should employ a finer distinction of different kinds of agglomeration externalities and their respective geographical ranges and scales

The role of agglomeration economies for SME transnationalisation: Bypassing the global urban service nexus?

A growing number of West European Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) attempt to reap the benefits of low production costs and growing demand in emerging Asian economies, by way of firm transnationalization. Successful transnationalization entails adaptation to completely different institutional environments. This requires the acquisition of both foreign knowledge and social networks. The economic geography literature tends to stress the importance of agglomeration externalities in this regard, since it is in large agglomerations where transnational connections are common. This paper gauges the the role of agglomeration externalities for eleven Dutch transnational SMEs that built a subsidiary in East or Southeast Asia. Contrary to expectations, agglomeration externalities in the home environment played a limited role. The researched SMEs source knowledge abroad, on conferences and with their non-local suppliers. Advanced producer services played a very modest role in this regard: the global urban service nexus emphasized by world cities research is often circumvented. As such, the findings of this paper do not corroborate the idea that regional resilience in less urbanized areas ought to stem from embracing urbanization. Instead, analyzing resilience should employ a finer distinction of different kinds of agglomeration externalities and their respective geographical ranges and scales