Integrating location quotient, local Moran's I and geographic linkage for spatial patterning of industries in Shanghai, China

Metropolitan areas serve as centers of innovation and modernization for future development in China. Urban industrial structures are important research subjects in economic geography and industrial economics. Conventional studies have relied on aggregated population and employment data to construct indices of industrial spatial structures. This paper aims to reveal the spatial pattern using the establishment (point) data of various industries within each block in Shanghai from three perspectives. Location quotient, local spatial autocorrelation analysis, and the coefficient of geographical linkage were applied to investigate point patterns and inter-industrial spatial associations. The comparative analysis of spatial pattern on industries in urban and suburban areas was performed to discuss the development density of industries and the spatial relationship of establishments in different districts and industries. This empirical study may provide some useful findings to relevant decision makers for urban planning and allocation of urban industries.