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The Call of the Wild: Call Centers and Economic Development in Rural Areas

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  • Ranald Richardson
  • Andrew Gillespie

Abstract

This paper attempts to reflect critically on the role which telephone call centers might play in the economic development of rural places in the ‘information age’, drawing mainly on a case study of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. It argues that although call center employment tends mainly to be urban‐based, the growth of this form of work does present opportunities for some rural areas. The paper considers the locational factors rural areas would have to possess or develop in order to attract such work. It suggests call centers can make a valuable, though limited, contribution towards rural economic development, principally through the creation of additional employment opportunities and the stimulation of new skills and competencies. It also suggests that call centers do not represent a panacea for rural areas and that, indeed, it would be dangerous for rural areas to become over‐reliant on employment in this sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Ranald Richardson & Andrew Gillespie, 2003. "The Call of the Wild: Call Centers and Economic Development in Rural Areas," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 87-108, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:growch:v:34:y:2003:i:1:p:87-108
    DOI: 10.1111/1468-2257.00200
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    Cited by:

    1. Chad R. Wilkerson & Megan D. Williams, 2007. "The Tenth District's defining industries: how are they changing?," Economic Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, vol. 92(Q III), pages 59-81.
    2. Yejin Yoo & Seungbee Choi, 2022. "Effects of Top-Down Balanced Development Strategies on Regional Balance: Evidence from Public Big Data in Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-26, December.
    3. Jana Maria Kleibert, 2015. "Islands of globalisation: Offshore Services and the Changing Spatial Divisions of Labour," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 47(4), pages 884-902, April.
    4. Megan D. Williams, 2007. "The Tenth District's defining industries: changes and opportunities for rural communities," Main Street Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, issue 5.
    5. Ebru Seçkin, 2011. "The Location Behavior Of Call Centre Firms In Turkey," ERSA conference papers ersa11p742, European Regional Science Association.
    6. Shelley M. Kimelberg & Elizabeth Williams, 2013. "Evaluating the Importance of Business Location Factors: The Influence of Facility Type," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(1), pages 92-117, March.
    7. Chris Benner, 2006. "'South Africa On-call': Information Technology and Labour Market Restructuring in South African Call Centres," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(9), pages 1025-1040.
    8. Inge Sieben & Andries De Grip & Jessica Longen & Ole Sørensen, 2009. "Technology, Selection, and Training in Call Centers," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 62(4), pages 553-572, July.
    9. Charisia Vlachou & Olga Iakovidou, 2015. "The Evolution Of Studies On Business Location Factors," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(04), pages 1-23, December.
    10. Ebru Seckin, 2011. "Capacity Building Potential Of The Call Center Sector In Turkey," ERSA conference papers ersa10p807, European Regional Science Association.

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