Temporary Geographical Proximity for Business and Work Coordination: When, How and Where?

In a recent paper (Torre & Rallet, 2005), we sought to understand the role of geographical space in the coordination of individuals and organizations and for this purpose we used two proximity related concepts: geographical proximity and organized proximity. Geographical proximity, can under certain conditions, facilitate interactions and common actions between economic actors that are located in close proximity to one another. Organized proximity also facilitates interactions between actors, but does not always necessitate the co-location of the latter. Belonging to an organization (in the wide sense of the term) – with its set of common rules – enables the members to share the same representations and values, which facilitates their coordination, even when distance separates them.