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Agglomeration and Firm Performance: Economies of Scale, Localisation, and Urbanisation among Swedish Export Firms

Author

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  • Anders Malmberg

    (Department of Social and Economic Geography, Uppsala University, PO Box 513, S-75120 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Bo Malmberg

    (Institute for Housing Research, Uppsala University, PO Box 785, S-80129 Gävle, Sweden)

  • Per Lundequist

    (Department of Social and Economic Geography, Uppsala University, PO Box 513, S-75120 Uppsala, Sweden)

Abstract

In the 1990s, there has been an increase in interest in the spatial agglomeration of similar and related firms and industries. The recent literature is, however, marked by a lack of balance between theoretical development and empirical validation of the importance of agglomeration economies. Our aim in this paper is to redress the balance by assessing empirically the impact of various types of agglomeration economies on export performance. Our study is based on a unique data set including all Swedish export firms. We find that localisation economies are not as important as recent theoretical contributions on industrial districts, new industrial spaces, and innovative milieus have led us to believe. Instead, traditional scale economies, together with urbanisation economies, have a larger effect on export performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Anders Malmberg & Bo Malmberg & Per Lundequist, 2000. "Agglomeration and Firm Performance: Economies of Scale, Localisation, and Urbanisation among Swedish Export Firms," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 32(2), pages 305-321, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:32:y:2000:i:2:p:305-321
    DOI: 10.1068/a31202
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ann Markusen, 1996. "Sticky Places in Slippery Space: A Typology of Industrial Districts," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 72(3), pages 293-313, July.
    2. Bennett Harrison & Maryellen R. Kelley & Jon Gant, 1996. "Innovative Firm Behavior and Local Milieu: Exploring the Intersection of Agglomeration, Firm Effects, and Technological Change," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 72(3), pages 233-258, July.
    3. Maryellen Kelley & Susan Helper, 1999. "Firm Size And Capabilities, Regional Agglomeration, And The Adoption Of New Technology," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1-2), pages 79-103.
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