Spatial implications of digitization: State of the field and research agenda

Abstract

Digitization is an influential megatrend that is quickly and comprehensively transforming economic spaces worldwide. Its disruptive power has not yet been fully developed but, despite a lack of topical empirical or theoretical research, it nevertheless seems clear that it will significantly affect the economic order within and between economic spaces and places. Currently, digitization is high on the policy agenda in many countries. Several related programs and initiatives combine expansion and improvement of digital infrastructure with efforts to reduce spatial economic inequality and to facilitate a general catch‐up process for lagging (often rural) regions. However, the idea that digitization can reduce spatial inequality remains highly controversial. This study aims to focus on the economic geography implications of digitization and to enrich the existing literature in two ways. First, the study overviews the state of research on the spatial consequences of digitization. Deploying a comprehensive literature review, this section discusses the primary theoretical and empirical results from two contradictory narratives on the ability of digitization to reinforce the death of distance and thus reduce spatial inequality. Second, we develop a research agenda concerning select fields of research that could appropriately be addressed in the future by economic geographers. These fields include spatial economic digitization effects, digital competencies, entrepreneurial activities, and innovation activities in both urban and rural regions. Closing the research gaps would contribute to the development of much‐needed policy measures.

Strategic analysis and development plan design on digital transformation in the energy industry: A global perspective

“…Digitization is an influential mega trend that is quickly and comprehensively transforming the economic spaces worldwide. 13 Many policy makers, industry specialists, and scholars have paid more and more attention to the interconnections between the digital transformation and the innovation management recently. 14 However, there are many high market barriers in the energy trade all over the world, which will inhibit the high efficiency of energy disposition to a certain extent.…”

Complementarity of the Measures of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Cohesion Policy for Rural Development Between 2021 and 2027 in the Light of Programing Documents

“…Digitization also contributes to reducing differences in the income of rural and urban population (Czapiewski et al, 2013). Its development in rural areas will make it possible to undertake and conduct economic activity in these areas which so far has been specific only to urban areas, due to their access to broadband internet (Haefner and Sternberg, 2020). Examples include accounting, design and IT services or the development of e-commerce (Mączyńska and Okoń-Horodyńska, 2020).…”

Digital urban production: how does Industry 4.0 reconfigure productive value creation in urban contexts?

“…Industry 4.0 and urban production Regional studies and economic geography scholars have been studying the spatial implications of technological change and digitalization for decades (e.g., Fromhold-Eisebith, 2018;Haefner & Sternberg, 2020;Leamer & Storper, 2001). Furthering this tradition, also more investigations into spatial perspectives of Industry 4.0 have been postulated (Harrison et al, 2020).…”

“…Second, we still insufficiently understand in which respects DUP benefits from urban context qualities, while digital tools rather support footloose industrial activities (Haefner & Sternberg, 2020), entailing changing spaces of production (Gress & Kalafsky, 2015). In theory, IT could enable (creative) companies to locate anywhere, not binding them to urban spaces (Brydges & Hracs, 2019).…”