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Weak Ties that Bind

Do Commutes Bind Montreal's Central and Suburban Economies?

Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique Université du Québec, Canada

Benjamin Motte

Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique Université du Québec, Canada

Using Montreal as a case study, the authors investigate whether overlapping labor markets explain economic links between the suburbs and the central city. Despite interconnection between labor markets, they find only weak evidence of commuting ties between particular suburbs and the city center. However, economic functions—but also some services and amenities—are distributed unevenly across the metropolitan area. The authors suggest that other connections, such as those generated by occasional consumption activities, interfirm exchanges, and other weak ties could be explored to more fully understand the economic ties between constituent parts of metropolitan areas.

Key Words: suburbs • central city • commutes • metropolitan economy • agglomeration

This version was published on March 1, 2009

Urban Affairs Review, Vol. 44, No. 4, 490-524 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1078087408322592


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