Complex Economic Activities Concentrate in Large Cities
Copyright policy )Complex Economic Activities Concentrate in Large Cities
Why do some economic activities agglomerate more than others? And, why does the agglomeration of some economic activities continue to increase despite recent developments in communication and transportation technologies? In this paper, we present evidence that complex economic activities concentrate more in large cities. We find this to be true for technologies, scientific publications, industries, and occupations. Using historical patent data, we show that the urban concentration of complex economic activities has been continuously increasing since 1850. These findings suggest that the increasing urban concentration of jobs and innovation might be a consequence of the growing complexity of the economy.
- University of California United States
- University of California United States
- UNIVERSITE FEDERALE DE TOULOUSE MIDI-PYRENEES France
- Harvard University United States
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA United States
FOS: Computer and information sciences, Physics - Physics and Society, Technology, Social Psychology, Urban Population, Science, Geographic Mapping, FOS: Physical sciences, Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, Physics and Society (physics.soc-ph), Patents as Topic, Behavioral Neuroscience, Taverne, Humans, Cities, [SHS.ECO] Humanities and Social Sciences/Economics and Finance, Social and Information Networks (cs.SI), Urbanization, Computer Science - Social and Information Networks, SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities, SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities, United States, Biotechnology
FOS: Computer and information sciences, Physics - Physics and Society, Technology, Social Psychology, Urban Population, Science, Geographic Mapping, FOS: Physical sciences, Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, Physics and Society (physics.soc-ph), Patents as Topic, Behavioral Neuroscience, Taverne, Humans, Cities, [SHS.ECO] Humanities and Social Sciences/Economics and Finance, Social and Information Networks (cs.SI), Urbanization, Computer Science - Social and Information Networks, SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities, SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities, United States, Biotechnology
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