Firmographic analysis in the previous coal mining area of Lens in the French Nord-Pas-de-Calais Region

It is widely accepted that there are some factors that influence the location patterns of firms over space and over time. The above is especially relevant in the case of deprived regions because an increase of firms’ location leads to higher employment opportunities which impacts on the regional economic growth. Moreover, the public transportation system may be efficiently exploited if the correct policy strategies of firms’ location are enhanced. The former reasons explain the usefulness to analyze the location patterns of firms over a certain region. In practice, the main problem of the empirical analysis of spatial and temporal patterns of firm location is related to the complexity to obtain detailed firmographic data due to both the lack of availability of micro data and confidentiality issues. Therefore, very few studies are available on these issues. Herein, we discuss different methodologies to obtain information on the location patterns of firms. As a case study, it is analyzed the region of the “bassin minier” of Nord-Pas de Calais, at the northern part of France. The Transport Authority is the SMT Artois Gohelle and it has planned to build in the near future two new tramway lines that will improve the accessibility in the region. In this case, an analysis that understands the mobility patterns of firms in the area would be certainly useful to foster their location when the new tramways start operating.