In economic geography, agglomeration is the tendency for firms and individuals to collocate based on common characteristics. Across cities and regions, evidence of this tendency is readily available. From the Meatpacking District in New York City to the automotive industry in the Midwest, theorists have long held that these spatial patterns are caused by decreases in transportation costs, shared labor pools, and knowledge spillovers. However, more recent patterns of spatial and economic growth—automation and globalization— as well as dramatic advances in communication technologies potentially push back on these long-held assumptions. To offer a more nuanced look at this tension, this project seeks to first determine trends of agglomeration across time and varying levels of geography before questioning what forces are driving these trends and whom they are affecting. This submission has been adapted from the project’s website. Animated and interactive visualizations can be found at hutton.web.unc.edu.Master of City and Regional Plannin
