Globalized post-suburbia

Abstract

The main research question of this study aims to clarify, if it is possible to speak of an emancipation of suburbia; a postsuburbia. Two indicators shall help to show the role that the suburbia of Vienna plays with regard to the global integration of the whole agglomeration: producer service firms and the investment patterns of company headquarters located in suburbia.Data show that the suburbanization of high value service firms is far below average; most newly created jobs in suburbia belong to low value services (trade). The investment activities of suburban headquarters confirm their integration into the global city-network; but differences in structure and spatial patterns allow for the conclusion that Vienna’s suburbia has – in this context – merely a complementary function to the core city.