| By: |
Karlsson, Charlie (Jönköping International Business School);
Picard, Robert (Jönköping International Business School) |
| Abstract: |
Large media clusters have emerged in a limited number of large cities,
characterizing the geographical concentration of the global media industry.
This paper explores the reasons behind the localization patterns of media
industries, the effect of the rapid advancement of Information and
Communication Technologies (ICT) on media clusters and the role of media
cluster policies. One might draw the conclusion that with the developments of
the ICT sector and the fact that there are no raw materials or physical goods
that should be transported in the media industry; media firms could locate
anywhere and the urban regions would no longer host any clusters of media
firms. Various reasons are provided as to why strong tendencies of media firms
to cluster in large cities should still be expected and why media clusters
differ from other clusters. The paper concludes that it is the type and form
of interaction and transactions that matter and new communication technologies
are mainly compliments to the still essential face-to-face interaction in the
media industry. Policy makers have promoted agglomeration in both large and
small cities since they have recognized that some media industries are
encouraging economic growth and employment creation. Approaches to cluster
governance and motivations for cluster policies are highlighted in the paper.
Furthermore, different topics of future research challenges connected to media
clusters are presented. |
| Keywords: |
Clustering; media industry; media cluster policies; creative industry; Information and Communication Technology; Weightless Economy; regional development; agglomeration |
| JEL: |
R11 R58 |
| Date: |
2011–03–24 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:cesisp:0246&r=ict |