Spaces of collaboration? Geography and functionality of coworking spaces in China

Abstract

The global expansion of coworking spaces (CSs) has attracted extensive attention. However, the suitability of the dominant CS model, which originates from the Global North, for the development realities of CSs in the Global South requires further investigation. Using an innovative dataset containing location information and user-generated comments of CSs obtained from a major Chinese online review portal, this study conducts a systematic analysis of the agglomerative pattern and functionality—namely the facilities and services offered to users and the activities undertaken in these spaces—of CSs on China's mainland. Our purpose is to offer new insights into the (spatial) development of CSs beyond the centers of the Global North and to advance understanding of users' experiences and perceptions regarding the functionality of CSs. The analysis demonstrates that the geography of CSs shaped by the intervention of the Chinese state exhibits a dual pattern of diffusion and agglomeration, reflecting the hybrid impacts of market and political forces. The functionality of CSs in China also differs from the idealized Western-centric CS concept, which emphasizes their business-supporting and knowledge-sharing functions. The perception of CSs as empowering, socializing sites supporting the development of knowledge economy cannot yet be supported in the Chinese context.