Is Distance Really Dead? Comparing Industrial Location Patterns over Time in Canada

This article presents a model for comparing industrial location patterns over time, applied to Canadian data for 1971 and 1996. The Canadian economy is divided into eighteen industrial sectors (manufacturing and services), of which eight are examined in detail. The analysis addresses several questions. Do observed location models for given industries follow predictable patterns? How stable are those patterns over time? Has the relative sensitivity to “distance” of given industries changed over time? Can significant breaks in location patterns be observed over time? The authors consider the possible impact of information technology on location. If “distance is dying,” as is sometimes argued, this should be reflected in changing location patterns. The results show a high degree of stability over time, suggesting that distance is still very much alive.