Linkage Flows, Locational Evaluation, and Industrial Geography: A Case Study of Greater London

Abstract

Published work on industrial linkage flows has tended to ignore both their relevance in underlying intracity industrial locational patterns and also the extent to which they relate to the present-day evaluation of such locations by firms. A series of hypotheses are set up and tested for Greater London concerning the interrelationships between linkage flows, spatial patterns, and locational evaluation. In general it is found that the volume of freight moving to and from firms in linkage flows is a poor predictor of spatial patterns and locational evaluation, despite the fact that London firms perceive linkages as important, not only in themselves but also in their strong relationship both to the degree to which firms concentrate on local markets and to their rates of decentralisation. Possible reasons for this paradox are suggested and, finally, some practical implications of the findings are indicated.