Methods of quantifying specialized knowledge and network rewiring

TL;DR

This paper introduces new methods to quantify specialized knowledge and analyze network rewiring using meetup participation data, shedding light on knowledge spillovers and social mechanisms in evolving regional tech economies.

Contribution

It develops novel measures of specialized knowledge from longitudinal meetup data and applies them to study network dynamics in regional technology economies.

Findings

Quantified knowledge spillovers in NYC and LA.

Uncovered social mechanisms behind network evolution.

Demonstrated the importance of knowledge exchange in tech growth.

Abstract

Technological innovations are a major driver of economic development that depend on the exchange of knowledge and ideas among those with unique but complementary specialized knowledge and knowhow. However, measurement of specialized knowledge embedded in technologists, scientists and entrepreneurs in the knowledge economy presents an empirical challenge as both the exchange of knowledge and knowledge itself remain difficult to observe. We develop novel measures of specialized knowledge using a unique dataset of longitudinal records of participation at technology-focused meetup events in two regional knowledge economics. Our measures of specialized knowledge can be further used to quantify the extend of knowledge spillover and network rewiring and uncover underlying social mechanisms that contribute to the development of increasingly complex and differentiated networks in maturing knowledge economies. We apply these methods in the context of the rapid morphogenesis of emerging regional technology economies in New York City and Los Angeles.