IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bpj/zfwige/v64y2020i3p165-179n3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Learning in Context: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach to Analyze Knowledge Acquisition at Trade Fairs

Author

Listed:
  • Zhu Yi-wen

    (East China Normal UniversityThe Center for Modern Chinese City Studies3663 North Zhongshan Road200062 ShanghaiShanghaiChina)

  • Bathelt Harald

    (University of TorontoDepartment of Geography & Planning100 St. George St.M5S 3G3 TorontoOntarioTorontoCanada)

  • Zeng Gang

    (East China Normal UniversityThe Center for Modern Chinese City Studies3663 North Zhongshan Road,ShanghaiChina)

Abstract

Conceptualizations of trade fairs as temporary clusters have identified important learning processes at such events, particularly at leading international trade fairs – both in developed and developing countries. However, little attention has been paid to the home contexts of participating firms that may affect knowledge acquisition patterns. In particular, it is unclear which contextual factors may influence learning behavior. This paper aims to investigate the role of geographical context conditions at the exhibitors’ permanent locations and whether their knowledge acquisition behavior during trade fairs varies systematically with aspects, such as city scale, peripherality, growth dynamics and connectivity. Our analysis is based on a survey of 211 firms conducted between 2014 and 2018 at the China International Industry Fair (CIIF) in Shanghai – one of Asia’s most important manufacturing fairs. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), the study identifies significant pathways of knowledge acquisition and how these differ with geographical context.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhu Yi-wen & Bathelt Harald & Zeng Gang, 2020. "Learning in Context: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach to Analyze Knowledge Acquisition at Trade Fairs," ZFW – Advances in Economic Geography, De Gruyter, vol. 64(3), pages 165-179, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:zfwige:v:64:y:2020:i:3:p:165-179:n:3
    DOI: 10.1515/zfw-2020-0006
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1515/zfw-2020-0006
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1515/zfw-2020-0006?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Keywords

    China; geographical context; knowledge acquisition; structural equation modeling (SEM); trade fairs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C30 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - General
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bpj:zfwige:v:64:y:2020:i:3:p:165-179:n:3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Peter Golla (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.degruyter.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.