Comparing the impact of intra- and inter-regional labour mobility on problem-solving in a Chinese science park

Abstract

Labour mobility of skilled employees is argued to have a positive impact on clusters, yet few studies have investigated how this might be influenced by diverse geographic patterns of mobility. Using evolutionary and institutional theory in geography, this paper argues that regional institutions and the existence of local tacit routines mean that the benefits of mobility to local firms may be enhanced if this mobility is local rather than inter-regional. This proposition is tested using regression and social network analysis on a unique survey of research and development employees working in information and communication technology firms based in Zhongguancun Science Park (ZGC) in Beijing, China.