tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post7622910848612486643..comments2023-10-27T03:16:03.213-04:00Comments on Burgh Diaspora: Thinking in Rust Belt TermsJim Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078184665418828961noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-41894251009133738812008-08-04T10:55:00.000-04:002008-08-04T10:55:00.000-04:00In terms of the exceptions to the proximity rule, ...In terms of the exceptions to the proximity rule, there is no difference between 250 or 2500 miles. In fact, I read a recent study that put the limit of effective knowledge transfer (i.e. spillover) at 10 kilometers.<BR/><BR/>See related blog post (Null Space):<BR/><BR/>http://tiny.cc/m3Uxe<BR/><BR/>Venture capital is limited by the same geography, which is part of the reason why innovation is so spiky (i.e. concentrated in a few select locations around the world).<BR/><BR/>AnnaLee Saxenian has done a lot of research on the importance of social capital in a knowledge economy. Check out her book "The New Argonauts."<BR/><BR/>I'm skeptical of mega-regions that are so large as to be culturally incoherent. Better urban networks can be built along the migration lines of the diaspora. Regarding my conception of a workable critical mass region, I'm looking at areas of significantly shared historical geography that could spread the reach of venture capital.<BR/><BR/>Taking a cue from Saxenian, I'm looking at the strongest pathways of inter-urban migration as underexploited economic assets. Interestingly, migration tends to follow the proximity rule. Most moves are short distances. What emerges from such a study is a large region of human capital exchange.Jim Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13078184665418828961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-5465584142745187102008-08-04T09:25:00.000-04:002008-08-04T09:25:00.000-04:00I think geography is great if you're local. But i...I think geography is great if you're local. But if you're still not co-located, what's the difference between 250 miles away or 2500?<BR/><BR/>And it isn't so much that I don't think Midwesterners should share ideas as that in the world we live in, you've got to be more active in building connections nationally and globally. Chicago isn't succeeding because of its regional connections but its connections to other world cities.The Urbanophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18094204641794131438noreply@blogger.com