The wide application of information and communication technologies （ICTs） has been argued to be critical to spatial transformation of firms. Recent advances in the studies along this line have challenged traditional...The wide application of information and communication technologies （ICTs） has been argued to be critical to spatial transformation of firms. Recent advances in the studies along this line have challenged traditional location theory. The existing literature, however, focuses mainly on the impacts of ICTs on Iocational conditions and industrial spatial distribution. The dynamics behind such changes have not yet been given sufficient attention by geographers. Given this background, this paper investigates the impact of new ICTs on traditional location theory and the dynamics of industrial re-location that are enabled by new ICTs, based on data collected from an investigation of 178 firms. The paper argues that the application of new ICTs has been a key location factor in the information age, and that the time-cost is becoming critical to the spatial organization of firms, particularly as a result of a shorter product life and mass customization, among other dynamics.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41001081 No.41125005 Key Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.KZZD-EW-06
文摘The wide application of information and communication technologies （ICTs） has been argued to be critical to spatial transformation of firms. Recent advances in the studies along this line have challenged traditional location theory. The existing literature, however, focuses mainly on the impacts of ICTs on Iocational conditions and industrial spatial distribution. The dynamics behind such changes have not yet been given sufficient attention by geographers. Given this background, this paper investigates the impact of new ICTs on traditional location theory and the dynamics of industrial re-location that are enabled by new ICTs, based on data collected from an investigation of 178 firms. The paper argues that the application of new ICTs has been a key location factor in the information age, and that the time-cost is becoming critical to the spatial organization of firms, particularly as a result of a shorter product life and mass customization, among other dynamics.
