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Technology and the Necessity of Offline Interaction at Work

Sun, August 12, 10:30 to 11:30am, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Floor: Level 100, 103B

Abstract

The paper studies whether the development of technology obsoletes the offline interaction at work by introducing virtual communication tools. In between positive speculation on the role of technology in reducing the meaning of physical distance and the emphasis on the robust role of offline interaction, I provide an approach to investigates this problem with a broader view through analyzing the distribution of occupations in the U.S. cities from 2000 to 2010. By using the data from Public Use Microdata Sample from Census and the Occupational Information Network, I measure how much occupations are geographically interdependent, and whether the technical skills required in occupations influence the interdependence. From the results, there is no evidence to support that the computer skills decrease the geographical interdependence of occupations both in 2000 and 2010. Instead, it strengthens the necessity of geographical proximity for the pair of occupations that require creative thinking. This finding suggests that the development of technology limits its role in complementing the complicated communication between creative occupations that are geographically close to each other instead of replacing simple communication of occupations in distance. As a result, instead of contributing to disseminate good jobs into multiple cities, technology only supports jobs in proximity, which does not help reduce the concentration of creative jobs in a few brain hubs with accumulated wealth and talented people.

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