Regional geographies of intercity corporate networks: The use of exponential random graph models to assess regional network-formation

Abstract

Drawing on the 'local buzz and global pipeline' perspective on the geographies of production in knowledge-intensive industries, our analysis associates observed network patterns with exogenous city characteristics (e.g., GDP and population) and endogenous local network structures (e.g., 'star' network structures) through exponential random graph models (ERGMs). Our analysis contributes to the quantitative analysis of urban systems and locational strategies of producer service firms, as we: (i) perform a direct two-mode network analysis of intercity corporate networks; (ii) explore the association between macro network patterns and local formation processes; and (iii) identify regional dynamics in network formation. © 2013 RSAI.