ABSTRACT

Studies investigating the spatial distribution of knowledge workers focus mainly on the factors that draw them to large primary cities. Second-ranked cities have trouble attracting and retaining these workers. We investigated whether there is a difference between the mobility preferences of knowledge workers residing in second-ranked cities and those of their peers in large primary cities. We used a field survey among workers in information and communications technology (ICT) residing in two cities in Israel: Tel Aviv, the leading metropolitan area in terms of innovative products, and Beersheba, the core of the southern periphery that has made great efforts to build a cyber hub. The results show that having a social network in the region in terms of close family, friends, and interactions with other people in the area has a stronger positive influence on the mobility preferences of knowledge workers residing in second-ranked cities, compared to their colleagues from large primary cities. The results acknowledge social networks as an important factor for place-based policies aimed at attracting knowledge workers to second-ranked cities.

摘要

调查知识工作者空间分布的研究主要集中在吸引他们到大一线城市的因素。排名第二的城市难以吸引和留住这些工人。我们调查了居住在二线城市的知识工作者的流动性偏好与居住在大一线城市的同龄人的流动偏好是否存在差异。我们对居住在以色列两个城市的信息和通信技术 (ICT) 工作者进行了实地调查：在创新产品方面处于领先地位的大都市区特拉维夫和南部外围的核心贝尔谢巴，它在创新产品方面做出了巨大努力建立网络枢纽。结果表明，在该地区拥有亲密的家人、朋友、与来自大一线城市的同事相比，居住在二线城市的知识工作者以及与该地区其他人的互动对他们的流动偏好有更强的积极影响。结果承认社交网络是旨在吸引知识工作者到二线城市的基于地方的政策的一个重要因素。