Interlocking Firm Networks in the German Knowledge Economy. On Local Networks and Global Connectivity

Stefan Lüthi, Alain Thierstein, Michael Bentlage

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The knowledge economy is a key driver of spatial development in metropolitan regions. A relational perspective on its business activities emphasizes the importance of knowledge-intensive firms and their networking strategies. The aim of this paper is to analyse the spatial networking patterns created by the interaction of knowledge-intensive firms and to place these activities in the theoretical context of the knowledge economy. Our central question is which large-scale interlocking networks and functional urban hierarchies are produced by Advanced Producer Services and High-Tech firms located in Germany. The intra-firm locational networks of these companies are analysed on three spatial scales: global, national and regional. The empirical findings show that the functional urban hierarchy in the German city system proves to be steeper than is claimed by the political debate on German Mega-City Regions.

Translated title of the contributionStandortverflechtungen in der deutschen Wissensökonomie. Über lokale Netzwerke und globale Konnektivität
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)161-174
Number of pages14
JournalRaumforschung und Raumordnung
Volume69
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 30 Jun 2011

Keywords

  • Advanced Producer Services firms
  • Germany
  • High-Tech firms
  • Interlocking firm networks
  • Knowledge economy

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