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This paper examines the geography of talented people using educational and occupational measures and its relationship with creative industries in French local labour systems. The link between talent and the creative economy has recently generated interest in the economic development literature as well as among policy makers. Previous studies have shown that spatial concentration of talented people in an area may bring about externalities generated by the exchange of new ideas between individuals, and this may foster the clustering of activities. Correlation and regression analyses suggest that creative industrial concentration is associated with talent as well as with tolerance and technology measures. This paper offers the empirical basis for the design of policies related to talent concentration in France. This type of policy may boost the capacity of territories for creativity and innovation, in line with the objectives set out by the European Commission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]