G. A. van der Knaap

Sectoral Differentiation and Network Structure Within Contemporary Worldwide Corporate Networks

Abstract This article contributes to the converging literatures on global production networks and new regionalism, which show that these two entities and their respective geographic scales are complexly interdependent. It explores two key conceptual differences between the leading world city network studies of Alderson and Beckfield and the work of the Global and World City (GaWC) Research Network. The first is the sectoral differentiation of the data, in which the former focuses on multinational corporations in all industrial sectors and the latter specifically targets only advanced producer services. The second involves methodological differences that lead to dissimilar network structures. Alderson and Beckfield made only a basic hierarchical differentiation of the firms, while the GaWC study used a more elaborate classification method. Combining these approaches, we explore firms’ global and regional interdependencies (their centrality within their network and its structure). Using a single data set of the top 100 global multinationals (2005) and their ownership linkages with thousands of subsidiaries in 2,259 unique cities worldwide. The findings not only reveal the nodal centralities and linkage structures within the “all industrial sector” network and the “producer service sector” network but also show a strong correlation between these two networks, specifically toward the apex of the economic systems, and evidence of the coexistence of hierarchical and heterarchical city network structures.

Transborder European Networking: Shifts in Corporate Strategy 1996

Abstract The disappearance of man‐made borders and the need for increased international cooperation seem to prelude a removal of unnecessary obstacles between actors in different countries. This article is concerned with the relationship between political borders, economic development of border regions and networking of companies located there. It presents a ‘state of the art’ of research on border region development and trans‐border networking by companies. Based upon this research, the article concludes with a discussion on conditions that influence the emergence of new corporate networking in border regions, including effective policy action.

The Geography of Global Corporate Networks: The Poor, the Rich, and the Happy Few Countries

The gradual integration of nations within our globalizing world is strongly related to the economic networks formed by multinational headquarters and their various subsidiaries located across the globe. Although the corporate reach of multinational corporations (MNCs) is clearly global, the geographical scope of their activities remains limited. Focusing on the network of ownership relations between the global Fortune 100 MNC headquarters and their subsidiaries, it is shown that global corporate activity remains unevenly distributed across the globe. Besides showing that richer countries are better connected within the global system than the poorer countries, the authors also reveal considerable differences in connectivity within the group of rich countries. Based on various determinants, these variations in network connectivity are explained.

Urban revitalization in the Netherlands: Current trends versus actual policies

Abstract The paper focuses at the discrepancy between actual urban policies and current spatial socio‐economic developments. Three discrepancies are discussed: homogeneous concepts versus developments directed at heterogeneity; economic seduction policies versus comprehensive developments; and small‐scale policies versus higher level developments. Basic to the current spatial trends is the evolution of a large‐scale urban network. This results in a less hierarchical urban structure and a heterogenization of economic centres and living areas which occurs both within and between urban places. Because of this, the steering possibilities of hierarchic organized urban policies are hampered. In contrast to these developments, urban policy in the Netherlands has a hierarchical nature and focuses heavily on the traditional dominant urban nodes. The present phase of policy, ‘urban management’, illustrates this. An adaption of the spatial framework of policy is needed. The paper also shows that present policies hau...

Foreign involvement in the Spanish automobile industry: internalising versus networking

The authors focus on the internationalisation of automotive production in Spain. In the first part of the paper they discuss two main approaches of international production: internalisation theory and network theory. It is argued that both approaches may be applied in a staged model of internationalisation. In the second part they highlight patterns of internationalisation in the Spanish automotive sector in the last two decades, based on data gathered in Spain in the first months of 1991. The results indicate that both theoretical approaches may be invoked to clarify certain aspects of the Spanish case; however, the general staged approach is not supported. The conclusion therefore stresses the need to develop a more integrative approach to internationalisation which is part of a broader theory of spatial-organisational change.

A two-stage model for the analysis of intraurban mobility processes

In this paper a model for small area migration forecasts is presented. It consists of two phases. In the first phase, movers and stayers are generated from the total population, according to move probabilities which depend on a number of characteristics of the population. A logit regression has been carried out to establish the influence of these characteristics on the move probabilities. The second phase of the model deals with the redistribution of the movers. In the last section of the paper some computational results will be given based on data for the City of Rotterdam.

A linear structural equation approach to cross-sectional models with lagged variables

Lagged variables play an important role in cross-sectional models in geography and regional sciences. This paper starts with an overview of the situations in which they may be required. Lagged variables also pose serious problems from a statistical point of view: multicollinearity and the determination of the length of the lag. Some common approaches to these two problems are discussed and evaluated. As an alternative a linear structural equation approach is presented, where the lagged variables are compressed to latent variables in a measurement model. The relationship between the lagged variables, thus compressed, and the dependent variable is expressed in the structural model. Both the measurement model and the structural model are estimated simultaneously. The paper ends with an application. A model of urban immigration for the thirty-three largest Dutch cities is estimated.

Population growth and urban systems development : a case study

1. Introduction and Framework of Analysis.- 1.1 Scope and method.- 1.2 Two conceptual models of economic development.- 1.3 A functional view on the evolution of central place models.- 1.4 Conclusions and research strategy.- Open or closed systems.- The structure of an urban system.- Systems behaviour over time.- Research strategy.- 2. Urban Population Distributions, Growth and Change, 1840-1970.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 The measurement and classification of an urban centre.- 2.3 An operational definition.- 2.4 Size distributions and stability.- 2.5 Aggregate growth patterns.- 2.6 Individual growth paths.- 2.7 Conclusions.- 3. The Development of Transport Networks and Urban Growth, 1840-1970.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Investments in transport networks.- 3.3 Innovations and periods.- 3.4 Spatial characteristics of network development.- Railways.- Waterways.- Roads.- 3.5 Network development and urban growth.- Measuring accessibility on a network.- Accessibility and urban size.- A cross-temporal analysis of transport networks.- 3.6 Conclusions.- 4. A Cross-Temporal Analysis of the Urban System.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Changes in population distribution.- 4.3 Functional classification.- 4.4 Temporal variations and stability.- 4.5 Structural analysis.- 4.6 Urban profiles and grouping analysis.- Grouping of cities.- Temporal stability in group membership.- 4.7 Conclusions.- 5. The Diffusion of T.V. Ownership In the Urban System, 1957-1967.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Diffusion as a temporal process.- 5.3 Diffusion as a spatial process.- Hierarchical diffusion.- Innovation waves.- 5.4 The growth of T.V. ownership, 1957-1967.- 5.5 Regional variations in socio-economic characteristics and acceptance patterns.- The hypotheses.- The data and models.- Test of the hypotheses.- 5.6 Conclusions.- 6. General Conclusions.- References.- Appendix 1.- Appendix 2.- Appendix 3.