Proximité technologique, infrastructures de communication et activités innovantes en Europe

According to New Economic Geography models, the limited diffusion of knowledge through space is a key determinant of the location decision of innovative activities. Following the dynamic externality approach presented by Glaeser et al. (1992), many recent econometric studies attempt to evaluate this effect of limited knowledge spillovers on the location of such innovative activities. Because knowledge spillovers can be affected both by technological and geographical proximity, we use the technological index developed by Jaffe (1986) as well as a travel time-based measure of distance between European regions to study the different spatial dependence structures. Our results confirm the importance of technological proximity and of the quality of communication infrastructure in explaining the polarisation of innovative activity in Europe. JEL classification: C11, O31, R12.