The micro-geography of knowledge exchanges in Montreal: Questioning the importance of the neighbourhood scale in an age of virtual communications

Abstract

Observation and theory confirm that economic activity can benefit from spatial agglomeration and clustering. Typically this has been analysed at the region or city scale, but recently micro-local and neighbourhood dynamics have drawn attention. Most studies first observe agglomeration, then infer or theorise processes that drive it; these inferred processes have become embedded in urban policy thinking. One such process is localised knowledge exchange, believed to be encouraged by spatial proximity and third spaces such as cafes and parks. In this study of Montreal firms, we directly explore the importance that firms attach to different scales and places at which knowledge exchange occurs. Overall, micro-local and local scales are considered less important than metropolitan and wider scales; third spaces are not considered important, except by marketing innovators; and there is no connection between innovation and the importance of local scale for knowledge acquisition. However, results are not homogeneous across urban context, economic sector or innovation profile: the association between micro-local knowledge exchange and geographical location is complex and cannot be generalised across neighbourhoods or firms.