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 language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 409-432 |
Number of pages | 24 |
Journal | Journal of Economic Geography |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 8 May 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 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