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Handbook of Proximity Relations
This Handbook is a state-of-the-art analysis of proximity relations, offering insights into its history alongside up-to-date scientific advances and emerging questions. Its broad scope – from industrial and innovation approaches through to society issues of living and working at a distance, territorial development and environmental topics – will ensure an in-depth focus point for researchers in economics as well as geography, organizational studies, planning and sociology.
More Information
Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
More Information
This Handbook is a state-of-the-art analysis of proximity relations, offering insights into its history alongside up-to-date scientific advances and emerging questions. Its broad scope – from industrial and innovation approaches through to society issues of living and working at a distance, territorial development and environmental topics – will ensure an in-depth focus point for researchers in economics as well as geography, organizational studies, planning and sociology.
Split into four distinctly thematic parts, the Handbook explores the precise definition of proximity relationships and their diversity, including the role they play in social and economic interactions as well as examining the origins and evolution of such relationships. It further presents a detailed overview of the main methods of analysis, highlighting the link between proximity relationships and exchange of information while explaining how exchanges at a distance rely on links of organized proximity – something that plays an increasing role in our societies.
This engaging Handbook will provide an excellent update for scientists and researchers on the recent developments in the analysis of proximity relations as well as students looking for precise and detailed information on the main characteristics of proximity relations, regional and spatial analysis, and the major analytical tools.
Split into four distinctly thematic parts, the Handbook explores the precise definition of proximity relationships and their diversity, including the role they play in social and economic interactions as well as examining the origins and evolution of such relationships. It further presents a detailed overview of the main methods of analysis, highlighting the link between proximity relationships and exchange of information while explaining how exchanges at a distance rely on links of organized proximity – something that plays an increasing role in our societies.
This engaging Handbook will provide an excellent update for scientists and researchers on the recent developments in the analysis of proximity relations as well as students looking for precise and detailed information on the main characteristics of proximity relations, regional and spatial analysis, and the major analytical tools.
Critical Acclaim
‘Finally, we have the first Handbook of Proximity Relations, edited by André Torre, one of the pioneers of the French School of Proximity, and Delphine Gallaud. It covers topics such as the theoretical development of the concept, methods and analytical tools, and emerging issues and future challenges. This authoritative and comprehensive Handbook is a must-read for researchers in regional science, regional studies and innovation who want to be informed about one of the key concepts in modern social science.’
– Bjørn T. Asheim, University of Stavanger, Norway
‘This Handbook provides a systematic overview of the contributions of the Proximity School. Incorporating a variety of disciplinary perspectives and analytic approaches, the Handbook provides a comprehensive overview and systematic analysis of the dimensions, characteristics, and fields of application of the principle of proximity. This important contribution provides the basis for future theoretical extension, analytical refinements and policy applications.’
– Maryann Feldman, University of North Carolina US
‘“Proximity” is a very difficult word. It appears at the outset to be no more than an innocuous reference to physical contiguity or juxtaposition, but on further scrutiny unfolds into multiple declensions with a vast diversity of applications in both the physical and social worlds. A large body of research on these matters has accumulated rapidly over the last two or three decades, much of it now summarized and extended in this authoritative Handbook edited by André Torre and Delphine Gallaud.’
– From the foreword by Allen J. Scott
– Bjørn T. Asheim, University of Stavanger, Norway
‘This Handbook provides a systematic overview of the contributions of the Proximity School. Incorporating a variety of disciplinary perspectives and analytic approaches, the Handbook provides a comprehensive overview and systematic analysis of the dimensions, characteristics, and fields of application of the principle of proximity. This important contribution provides the basis for future theoretical extension, analytical refinements and policy applications.’
– Maryann Feldman, University of North Carolina US
‘“Proximity” is a very difficult word. It appears at the outset to be no more than an innocuous reference to physical contiguity or juxtaposition, but on further scrutiny unfolds into multiple declensions with a vast diversity of applications in both the physical and social worlds. A large body of research on these matters has accumulated rapidly over the last two or three decades, much of it now summarized and extended in this authoritative Handbook edited by André Torre and Delphine Gallaud.’
– From the foreword by Allen J. Scott
Contributors
Contributors: Pierre-Alexandre Balland, Harald Bathelt, Christophe Beaurain, Bastien Bernela, Marina Bertoncin, Ron Boschma, Lise Bourdeau-Lepage, Roberta Capello, Andrea Caragliu, Philip Cooke, Nicola Cortinovis, Riccardo Crescenzi, Cyril de Bodt, Sabrina Dermine-Brullot, Peter Elmlund, Marie Ferru, Maryline Filippi, Koen Frenken, Delphine Gallaud, Michel Grossetti, Ludovic Journaux, Karima Kourtit, Thomas Lauvås, John Aldo Lee, Pengfei Li, Habibullah Magsi, Patrick Mundler, Max Nathan, Peter Nijkamp, Andrea Pase, Etienne Polge, Alain Rallet, Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, Céline Rozenblat, Muazzam Sabir, Allen J. Scott, Marianne Steinmo, Rolf Sternberg, Robert Stimson, André Torre, Frank van Oort, Frederic Wallet, Jean-Benoît Zimmermann, Yi-wen Zhu
Contents
Contents:
vii
Foreword by Allen J. Scott xiii
Structure of the Handbook xv
Introduction: proximity relations in the 21st century 1
André Torre and Delphine Gallaud
PART I PROXIMITY: MAJOR THEORETICAL DEBATES AND
THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ANALYTICAL POSITION IN REGIONAL SCIENCE
The French School of Proximity: genesis and evolution of a school of
thought 49
Jean-Benoît Zimmermann, André Torre and Michel Grossetti
Proximity, innovation and networks: a concise review and some next steps 70
Pierre-Alexandre Balland, Ron Boschma and Koen Frenken
The School of Proximity, genesis and development of a scientific notion 81
Maryline Filippi, André Torre, Etienne Polge and Frederic Wallet
Proximity and regional development: an overview 97
Robert J. Stimson
The impact of digital technologies on perceptions of proximity 124
Bastien Bernela, Marie Ferru and Alain Rallet
PART II METHODS AND ANALYTICAL TOOLS
Measuring the unmeasurable: the empirics of non-geographical proximity 138
Andrea Caragliu
Proximities in dimensionality reduction 165
John Aldo Lee, Cyril de Bodt, Ludovic Journaux and Lucile Sautot
Geographical proximity questioned 204
Marina Bertoncin and Andrea Pase
Cities’ systems and networks’ proximities: toward a multiplex approach 220
Céline Rozenblat
PART III PROXIMITY, INNOVATION AND KNOWLEDGE
Proximity and collaborative knowledge creation 252
Riccardo Crescenzi, Max Nathan and Andrés Rodríguez-Pose
Fluctuating proximities and clusters: “the future is already here – it’s just
not very evenly distributed” 273
Philip Cooke
Economic networks, innovation and proximity 292
Nicola Cortinovis and Frank van Oort
The role of proximity dimensions in university–industry collaboration:
a review and research agenda 307
Marianne Steinmo and Thomas Lauvås
Entrepreneurship and proximity 326
Rolf Sternberg
Geographies of temporary markets: an anatomy of the Canton Fair 347
Harald Bathelt, Pengfei Li and Yi-wen Zhu
PART IV EMERGING ISSUES AND FUTURE CHALLENGES
The role of proximity in food systems 368
Patrick Mundler
Industrial and territorial ecology: what types of proximity at work? 384
Christophe Beaurain and Sabrina Dermine-Brullot
Infrastructural development projects and proximity analysis 397
Habibullah Magsi and Muazzam Sabir
Neighbourhood proximity: a microcosmic resilience perspective on cities 411
Karima Kourtit, Peter Nijkamp and Peter Elmlund
The city: a question of proximity(ies) 430
Lise Bourdeau-Lepage
Conclusion: the concept of proximity in regional science – a synthesis and
future research avenues 443
Roberta Capello
Index 460
vii
Foreword by Allen J. Scott xiii
Structure of the Handbook xv
Introduction: proximity relations in the 21st century 1
André Torre and Delphine Gallaud
PART I PROXIMITY: MAJOR THEORETICAL DEBATES AND
THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ANALYTICAL POSITION IN REGIONAL SCIENCE
The French School of Proximity: genesis and evolution of a school of
thought 49
Jean-Benoît Zimmermann, André Torre and Michel Grossetti
Proximity, innovation and networks: a concise review and some next steps 70
Pierre-Alexandre Balland, Ron Boschma and Koen Frenken
The School of Proximity, genesis and development of a scientific notion 81
Maryline Filippi, André Torre, Etienne Polge and Frederic Wallet
Proximity and regional development: an overview 97
Robert J. Stimson
The impact of digital technologies on perceptions of proximity 124
Bastien Bernela, Marie Ferru and Alain Rallet
PART II METHODS AND ANALYTICAL TOOLS
Measuring the unmeasurable: the empirics of non-geographical proximity 138
Andrea Caragliu
Proximities in dimensionality reduction 165
John Aldo Lee, Cyril de Bodt, Ludovic Journaux and Lucile Sautot
Geographical proximity questioned 204
Marina Bertoncin and Andrea Pase
Cities’ systems and networks’ proximities: toward a multiplex approach 220
Céline Rozenblat
PART III PROXIMITY, INNOVATION AND KNOWLEDGE
Proximity and collaborative knowledge creation 252
Riccardo Crescenzi, Max Nathan and Andrés Rodríguez-Pose
Fluctuating proximities and clusters: “the future is already here – it’s just
not very evenly distributed” 273
Philip Cooke
Economic networks, innovation and proximity 292
Nicola Cortinovis and Frank van Oort
The role of proximity dimensions in university–industry collaboration:
a review and research agenda 307
Marianne Steinmo and Thomas Lauvås
Entrepreneurship and proximity 326
Rolf Sternberg
Geographies of temporary markets: an anatomy of the Canton Fair 347
Harald Bathelt, Pengfei Li and Yi-wen Zhu
PART IV EMERGING ISSUES AND FUTURE CHALLENGES
The role of proximity in food systems 368
Patrick Mundler
Industrial and territorial ecology: what types of proximity at work? 384
Christophe Beaurain and Sabrina Dermine-Brullot
Infrastructural development projects and proximity analysis 397
Habibullah Magsi and Muazzam Sabir
Neighbourhood proximity: a microcosmic resilience perspective on cities 411
Karima Kourtit, Peter Nijkamp and Peter Elmlund
The city: a question of proximity(ies) 430
Lise Bourdeau-Lepage
Conclusion: the concept of proximity in regional science – a synthesis and
future research avenues 443
Roberta Capello
Index 460
