Peter Gripaios

Call Centre Growth and Location: Corporate Strategy and the Spatial Division of Labour

The authors contribute to the developing literature on call centres by providing detailed empirical evidence on the spatial unevenness in the distribution of call centre activity. They argue that the driving forces of call centre growth, whether as the rationalisation of back-office functions or as entirely new entities, have been corporate strategy and the pursuit of low-cost competitive advantage. Thus, although technological developments at the heart of call centre operations render them relatively ‘footloose’ in locational terms, the search for specific characteristics makes certain regions (and parts of regions) more attractive than others. By using a sample database of call centres, the authors describe the characteristics of call centres in the United Kingdom in terms of size, sector, and spatial distribution. They then attempt to explain the determinants of call centre location at the county level through a multiple regression analysis. The results indicate that there is a propensity to site call centres close to existing concentrations of allied activity, with preferences for densely populated areas mediated by needs to maintain employee access and avoid staff turnover problems. This has important implications for the spatial division of labour, with call centre growth likely to reinforce existing spatial unevenness in employment in key service activities. The authors conclude by considering the implications of these findings for contemporary urban and regional development, as well as providing a number of suggestions for future research.

The impact of a port on its local economy: the case of Plymouth

It has been suggested in two potentially influential documents that the development of ports could be an important tool of regional economic growth in areas such as South West England. This proposition is analysed in this article by detailed examination of the case of Plymouth, one of the areas in the region for which port development has been mooted. It is concluded that the Plymouth evidence suggests that it is easy to exaggerate the existing and potential role of ports in the regional development process. Ports are not big employers of labour and are no longer the inter-related industrial complexes that they once were. In most cases, therefore, they serve industry in areas distant from their own.

The Failure of Regeneration Policy in Britain

Two main types of urban problem exist in the UK. The first is problem localities in prosperous cities, the second is depressed towns and cities per se . In both cases, and despite years of policy intervention, there is little evidence that the situation is improving. There are fundamental economic problems to be addressed on both the supply and demand side. Recent government policy directed at regions, urban areas and the planning system is very much supply focused. Preferences will have to be altered so that peripheral regions and problem neighbourhoods become more desirable. A changing balance of government spending and increased costs of motoring should be priorities.

Differences in GDP per head in GB counties: some suggested explanations

This paper examines the evidence concerning the convergence of gross domestic product (GDP) per head across GB counties during 1977-1995. In general, the evidence rejects the hypothesis of convergence although there is some evidence of a north-south divide with γ convergence in the north in the 1990s. Cross-section results suggest that variation in GDP per head may be related to different economic activity rates and some aspects of industrial structure.

The closure of firms in the inner city: the South East London case 1970–75

Gripaios P. (1977) The closure of firms in the inner city: the South East London case 1970–75, Reg. Studies 11, 1–6. There has been a significant fall in employment in inner London since around 1961. Associated with this decline has been a reduction in the stock of industry, as firms have ceased production or relocated outwards. Examination of 359 establishment closures in the south east part of inner London since 1970 reveals that most closures involve firm deaths. This high death rate is a feature of closures in each non primary industry order, indicating possible long term multiplier effects of past decentralisation. The ending of decentralisation policy is unlikely to have much impact on this loss of firms.

Analysing the impact of Objective 1 funding in Europe: A review

This paper examines the impact of Objective 1 funding in Europe in reducing country and regional disparities in gross value added per capita by presenting a critical review of both empirical studies and end-of-term programme reports. In practice, it is very difficult to establish impact effects because it is hard to establish the counterfactual. This difficulty arises as a consequence of different theoretical predictions as to what would happen in the absence of intervention, overlapping funding streams, and the regional impact of other policies such as European integration. There are also evaluation problems caused by data inadequacies and noise. Even so, the balance of evidence suggests that Objective 1 funding has had remarkably little demonstrable impact and there is, therefore, a strong case for reform.

Determinants of Call Centre Location: Some Evidence for UK Urban Areas

This paper presents new evidence concerning the spatial distribution of UK call centre activity and analyses the determinants of this distribution. The study adopts a restructuring perspective, viewing call centre growth as a strategic response by companies seeking to develop competitive advantage and a process that is changing the spatial division of labour. The data indicate that there is an uneven spatial distribution of call centre activity in the UK. The results of econometric models, utilising Tobit and negative binomial regression techniques, suggest that regional aid, population density, the existing spatial division of labour and a large local labour force have a positive influence on call centre activity. Surprisingly, there is no evidence that labour costs influence call centre location.

Explaining Spatial Patterns of Industrial Diversity: An Analysis of Sub-regions in Great Britain

This paper argues that effective local policy development requires a thorough understanding of patterns of spatial diversity involving the integration of theoretical work from geography, economics and management. An empirical analysis of diversity in Great Britain for the period 1995-2002 is presented utilising entropy measures of diversity. The results of empirical models of the determinants of diversity across sub-regions examine the significance of a number of explanatory factors including regional size, level of urbanisation, industry structure, market structure and key resources. Decomposing the model into related and unrelated diversity components reveals some important differences between the two types of diversity. The paper concludes that policies fostering long-term diversity are a crucial complement to policies focusing on key sectors.

The costs and benefits of inward investment: The case of Plymouth

Outline Inward investment has long been regarded in the UK as the major method of restructuring the economies of depressed regions. The value of such investment has long been contentious. Those in favour argue that inward investment provides a number of benefits including the provision of good employment opportunities, diversification of local economies, demand for local raw materials, components and services, improved R & D and productivity and support of local communities. Those against tend to argue that inward investment provides the wrong sort of jobs in the wrong sort of production units and question whether many of the above alleged benefits are realised. This article examines these issues through a detailed analysis of the impact of inward investment in one city, Plymouth. The evidence suggests that the benefits of inward investment have been considerable though there have been some disadvantageous aspects. In any event, it is argued that there are no credible policy alternatives. What must be don...

The impact of industrial structure on changes in unemployment in GB travel to work areas 1989-92

The impact of industrial structure on changes in unemployment has been hard to establish conclusively. This article examines this issue, for GB travel to work areas, for the period from December 1989 to December 1992 and concentrates in particular on the potential role of public and semi public sector employment in dampening the impact of recession in areas where such employment is relatively important. It is concluded that industrial structure was of some importance in the changes in unemployment over this time. A high percentage of employment in public and semi-public agencies did mitigate the impact of recession; other important explanatory variables included dummies to discriminate between north, central and southern regions, and changes in house prices.