The German Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Industry: Spatial Growth and Innovation Patterns

Maurseth P. B. and Frank B. The German information and communication technology (ICT) industry: spatial growth and innovation patterns, Regional Studies. This paper is motivated by previous studies that have found that information and communication technology (ICT) industries seem to cluster geographically and having spatially clustered growth rates. In Germany, the production of ICT devices is concentrated in clusters of innovating regions (in terms of patents). ICT service production, on the other hand, is concentrated in larger urban areas. The data show that negative spatial effects are present for several sectors, which might give support for the so-called backwash effect described by Gunnar Myrdal in 1957. Weak positive growth effects from ICT are found, but these growth effects stem more from innovation in rather than from production or use of ICT. [image omitted]