Author: | Feldman, M. P. Audretsch, D. B. |
Title: | Innovation in cities: Science-based diversity, specialization and localized competition |
Journal: | European Economic Review
1999 : FEB, VOL. 43:2, p. 409-429 |
Index terms: | INNOVATION GEOGRAPHY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIZATION COMPETITION |
Language: | eng |
Abstract: | Whether diversity or specialization of economic activity better promotes technological change and subsequent economic growth has been the subject of a heated debate in the economics literature. The purpose of this paper is to consider the effect of the composition of economic activity on innovation. It is tested whether the specialization of economic activity within a narrow concentrated set of economic activities is more conducive to knowledge spillovers or if diversity better promotes innovation. The evidence provides considerable support for the diversity thesis but little support for the specialization thesis. |
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