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The productivity effects of regional anchors on local firms in Swedish regions between 2007 and 2019—evidence from an expert-informed machine learning approach

Author

Listed:
  • Magnus Nilsson
  • Torben Schubert
  • Johan Miörner

Abstract

The concept of regional anchor firms remains under-investigated. We analyse the mechanisms by which anchors affect other regional firms, disentangling effects resulting from scale/size vis-à-vis knowledge spillovers. Departing from previous idiographic research, we adopt a nomothetic research design and develop a stepwise expert-informed supervised machine learning approach to identify all anchor firms in Sweden between 2007 and 19. We find support for positive anchor effects on the productivity of dependent regional firms. This effect is driven by factors reflecting scale/size, while anchors’ R&D intensity as a measure for knowledge spillovers does not drive productivity gains.

Suggested Citation

  • Magnus Nilsson & Torben Schubert & Johan Miörner, 2025. "The productivity effects of regional anchors on local firms in Swedish regions between 2007 and 2019—evidence from an expert-informed machine learning approach," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 25(2), pages 215-234.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jecgeo:v:25:y:2025:i:2:p:215-234.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jeg/lbae038
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    anchor-tenants; productivity; machine learning; anchor firms; Sweden; R&D intensity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • R1 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure

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