Spatial Imaginaries and Tech Cities: Place-branding East London's digital economy

Max Nathan, Emma Vandore, Georgina Voss

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)
309 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We explore place branding as an economic development strategy for technology clusters, using London's 'Tech City' initiative as a case study. We site place branding in a larger family of policies that develop spatial imaginaries and specify affordances and constraints on place brands and brand-led strategies. Using mixed methods over a long timeframe, we analyse Tech City's emergence and the overlapping, competing narratives that preceded and succeeded it, highlighting day-to-day challenges and more basic tensions. While a strong brand has developed, we cast doubt on claims that policy has had a catalytic effect, at least in the ways originally intended.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)409-432
Number of pages24
JournalJournal of Economic Geography
Volume19
Issue number2
Early online date8 May 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2019

Keywords

  • Clusters
  • entrepreneurship
  • ICT
  • local economic development
  • place branding
  • Tech City

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Economics and Econometrics

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