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Head Office Location: Agglomeration, Clusters or Flow Nodes?

Author

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  • Stig-Erik Jakobsen

    (Institute for Research in Economics and Business Administration, Breiviksveien 40, N-5045 Bergen, Norway, stigerik.jakobsen@snf.no)

  • Knut Onsager

    (NIBR, Gaustadalleen 21, 0313 Oslo, Norway, knut.onsager@nibr.no)

Abstract

How can we understand head office location in a knowledge-intensive urban economy? This is the basic question addressed in this paper. Even if proximity is important in understanding location, a study must also emphasise the multiplicity of connections that surpass the cluster or city level, which are critical for the operation of the head office. The study offers new insights into the categorisation of head office location and illustrates the importance of a multilevel perspective by analysing head offices as nodes within a system of internal, regional and external flows of knowledge and information. This theoretical approach is inspired by the work of Amin and Thrift. The paper's theory-informed discussion is based on empirical data from a survey of the largest companies in Norway and on intensive case studies from a selection of these firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Stig-Erik Jakobsen & Knut Onsager, 2005. "Head Office Location: Agglomeration, Clusters or Flow Nodes?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 42(9), pages 1517-1535, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:42:y:2005:i:9:p:1517-1535
    DOI: 10.1080/00420980500185330
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. D I Lyons, 1994. "Changing Patterns of Corporate Headquarter Influence, 1974–89," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 26(5), pages 733-747, May.
    4. Kevin Morgan, 1997. "The Learning Region: Institutions, Innovation and Regional Renewal," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(5), pages 491-503.
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