Mechanism Underlying the Formation of Virtual Agglomeration of Creative Industries: Theoretical Analysis and Empirical Research

Abstract

Industrial agglomeration serves as an effective model for developing the creative economy and manifests itself as the interdependence of creative subjects in geographical space. The traditional methods of resource agglomeration have undergone tremendous changes due to the development of digital technology. These transformations have given birth to a new organizational form of the virtual agglomeration of creative industries. The present work uses field interviews and grounded theoretical research methods to construct a theoretical model of this new organizational phenomenon. Questionnaire surveys and empirical testing using structural equation models are here combined to systematically analyze the formation mechanism of the virtual agglomeration of creative industries. The results show that digital technology, virtual platforms, digital creative talents, digitization of cultural resources, and government policies have driven the formation of the virtual agglomeration of creative industries. This has been achieved through network collaboration, freedom of participation, and trust guarantee mechanisms. The effect of emerging consumer demand on the virtual agglomeration of creative industries is not significant. In addition, the implications of this research are also considered and discussed.