Identifier: TDX:2966
Authors: Méndez Ortega, Carles
Abstract:
This thesis identifies and analyses the factors that determine the location of Software and Video Game firms (SVE) in metropolitan areas, by analysing the location and agglomeration of these firms with other creative firms and its pattern at urban level. This thesis contributes to the literature on high-tech industries by analysing their location patterns at the urban level using a wide range of methodological tools (spatial econometrics, distance-based methods and Geographical Information Systems, among others). The empirical application focuses mainly on Barcelona and its metropolitan area, as well as on the metropolitan areas of Lyon and Hamburg, for the period 2011-2015. The main findings show that small, new firms belonging to this industry tend to be more concentrated than big, old ones. In terms of collocation, SVE firms tend to collocate with creative industries, and this collocation is the same across different metropolitan areas. Moreover, this thesis has confirmed the location determinants of this industry and, although these determinants are not so different from the determinants of these creative and non-creative firms, SVE firms tend to choose locations with a high diversity of cultural and creative activity, and good high-tech amenities. Finally, this thesis highlights the predominant role of urban cores in metropolitan areas and important specificities in terms of the core-periphery distribution of SVE firms and the role that urban renewal projects (e.g., 22@ district) play in the location pattern of these firms. These results raise some interesting issues for policy makers, since the promotion and attraction of creative activities, in conjunction with the factors mentioned above, will contribute to the location of SVE activities, which are fundamental to economic growth and will boost the economic development of cities.
Repositori URV