Distribution Of Economic Activity Research Articles

Does morphological polycentric spatial structure improve subjective well-being? – Evidence from China based on the moderating perspective of the urban-rural income inequality

This paper reveals the mechanisms by which the spatial structure of morphological polycentricity (MP) affects the subjective well-being (SWB) in China, focusing on the distribution of economic activities. Using panel data for 21 provinces in China from 2010 to 2020, we compare the effects of dynamic MP, measured using nighttime light data, and static MP, measured using demographic data, on SWB. Our findings reveal that, as regional economic benefits enhance and megacities form, the adjustment of MP spatial policy becomes increasingly significant in improving SWB. Notably, dynamic changes in MP exhibit a more pronounced effect on the satisfaction and confidence aspects of SWB. Moreover, increased urban-rural income inequality moderates this relationship, diminishing the positive impact of MP on SWB among rural households. Regional analysis indicates that in economically advancing areas and emerging megacities, adjustments in MP spatial policy are increasingly crucial for improving SWB. Central regions experiencing economic growth exhibit a greater need to balance economic agglomeration with population dispersion to optimize well-being outcomes. The empirical evidence provided suggests the potential benefits of adopting harmonized development strategies and indicates that incorporating the socio-economic context into spatial planning may contribute to the optimization of well-being.

Efectos contagio del Covid-19 a nivel espacial entre municipios

This article quantifies the spatial diffusion capacity –spatial spillover effect– of the COVID-19 virus at municipal level for the department of Antioquia, Colombia, from the onset of its spread in 2020 until December 2021. To this end, error and spatial lag models were implemented to identify the pattern of infections and classify municipalities in terms of their diffusion capacity. The empirical results show a characteristic spatial pattern conditioned by the distribution of economic activity. There is also evidence indicating a reduction of about 83% in the average diffusion capacity of the virus associated with the vaccination process implemented in the department. The findings are valuable for informing public policies that encompass the geographic environment and are necessary for mitigating viruses and similar pandemic processes.

European highways and the geographic diffusion of economic activities from agglomerations to less urbanised areas

This paper analyses the impact of highways on the distribution of economic activities between urban agglomerations and peripheral regions in the European Union. In doing so, I use an empirical strategy based on the land use theory employing disaggregated economic and infrastructure data. To address endogeneity, I apply an IV strategy exploiting non-local highway construction as a source of exogenous variation. I find that highways contribute to the diffusion of urban economic activities into surrounding areas, reducing the income gap between European agglomerations and peripheries. Reduced-form estimations suggest that the gap would have been nearly 3% higher in 2020 if the highway networks of European countries had remained at the level of 1990. The study concludes that transportation infrastructure policies can alleviate regional income disparities, increasing economic convergence between urbanised and less urbanised areas.

High-speed rail and distribution of economic activities: Evidence from prefecture-level cities in China

Creating new subcenters around suburban transport nodes is a popular policy choice for urban development. In this study, we investigate how high-speed rail stations reshape economics activities in less populous cities. Employing night-light data at the pixel level, we demonstrate that the establishment of a new station has resulted in a flattened economic density gradient for Chinese prefecture-level cities. Notably, however, the gravitational core of urban economic activity does not exhibit a discernible shift towards the station area. This evidence suggests that the station area has not formed into a new subcenter; instead, it might have contributed to urban sprawl. We show that the formation of a new subcenter is tied to several pivotal determinants, which include the level of urban agglomeration, the distance to the original urban center, and government investment in the station area. Further analysis, grounded in a comprehensive dataset of land transactions, reveals that there has been no significant land price appreciation within the station area. This finding raises questions regarding the effectiveness of government-led new town development around the station area.

Monitoring the transformation in New Cairo's urban vitality and the accompanying social and economic phenomena

Many cities in Egypt have been built recently with spatial characteristics that differ structurally from the spatial configuration of the ancient Arab city. There is a growing interest in understanding how social and economic phenomena related to the community are transformed in new cities, particularly those that extend from the old city, as is the case with the city of New Cairo. We have developed an analytical framework to study the effects of spatial configuration on the pace of growth of the new city and identify its characteristics in terms of phenomena related to movement and the distribution of economic activities, as well as urban vitality. A framework for combining quantitative and qualitative analysis helps in understanding phenomena related to the morphology of the development of the new city. Using syntactic analysis, place syntax and field observation, the spatial characteristics of the city of New Cairo were investigated, then compared with Old Cairo to determine which features were enriched in terms of the city's vitality or what has been lost during the expansion phases, based on the planning concepts that were applied. The study concluded that changes in the characteristics of the spatial configurations of the new Egyptian cities by increasing the flow of vehicular traffic via wide arterial roads do not reflect the requirements of the local community, but instead impede local movement within the city and reduce the integration of its neighbourhoods, turning them into isolated islands. The greatest impact of this is the way in which the characteristics of society in these cities have been limited, resulting in isolation and a lack of connection with the identity of the place and the customs and traditions of the community. This paper presents an analytical framework for evaluating similar cities in terms of the characteristics of this planning configuration, identifying the extent to which the old has been preserved or changed and emphasising the validity of the methodology by evaluating the characteristics of other new cities.

Spatial patterns of economic activities in Łódź

The article contains the results of the analysis on the distribution of economic activities in modern Łódź conducted with the use of space syntax tools. The study encompassed selected street sections in the broadly-understood city centre (in total, approx. 30 km of streets, with more than 1300 recorded business locations). The analysis conducted has shown that the observed density of business activities in Łódź is connected to the spatial arrangement of the global street network integration. The configuration of the Łódź plan is a statistically important factor that influences the spatial patterns of economic activities. Depending on the location within the layout, individual street sections provide various conditions for the development of business activities, therefore they have varying significance to the shaping of the internal, economic image of the city area.

Tax exemption in Brazil in 2009: why vehicles and not agriculture? An interregional general equilibrium analysis

Tax exemption has been used systematically in Brazil to stimulate the economy. In 2009, in an attempt to stem the economic slowdown, the Brazilian government adopted a countercyclical economic policy that included lowering taxes on vehicle prices. Why was this sector chosen rather than another? This article seeks to analyse the effects of this policy on the Brazilian economy in 2009, using as a counterfactual a tax exemption policy targeted on the agriculture sector. Based on an interregional computable general equilibrium model (TERM-BR), the two policies are simulated and compared. The results show that lowering taxes on agricultural products can be considered superior to an equivalent tax reduction for vehicles, in terms of the effects on employment, income, household consumption, GDP and, especially, the distribution of economic activity across the regions of Brazil and the income distribution.

The Effects of Land-Use Regulation and Transport Infrastructure on the Distribution of Economic Activity

The Effects of Land-Use Regulation and Transport Infrastructure on the Distribution of Economic Activity

Regional Development Strategies for Major Cities - According to Economic Indicators - The Region of Aleppo's Greater City as a Case Study

The aim of the study was to define some developmental concepts and discuss a variety of development theories that addressed economic development and its effect on the development and growth of the regions of major cities. The importance of the economic factor in the development process was emphasized in most development theories, by determining the most suitable investment locations and the best delivery of activities and services based on the best relationships. Afterwards, some Arab and international experiences were examined, which discussed the topic of research based on an analytical study of various economic considerations, and different scenarios were used to set development plans based on the priorities for achieving goals that differed by country. The study assumes that the lack of developmental balance between the city and its region is due to land use inconsistency and a lack of long-term planning for available resources and development potential. This resulted in the loss of many commercial and development prospects, a decline in agricultural output, and a rise in real estate rents in the surrounding areas of big cities in general, and Aleppo in particular. To track the problem, we used the historical method, the inductive method to read the facts, the deductive method to elicit the sources of the problem, the analytical method to analyze the causes, and the results were formulated using the analysis. Then, based on the strategies, theories, and experiences studied in the first topic, a development strategy was proposed based on the development indicators of the Greater Aleppo City region. To promote sustainable growth in the country, this strategy seeks to reduce development disparities throughout the region and achieve equity in the distribution of economic activity.

Changes in the distribution of economic activity in Wrocław and its suburban area, 2008–2016

Abstract This article presents changes in the distribution of economic activity in Wrocław and its suburbs in the period 2008–2016. The study is based on the analysis of data from the REGON database. Additionally, the article presents the impact of migration of economic entities attributed to suburbanisation of economic entities on the changes noted in the distribution of economic entities in the Wrocław agglomeration. The article also presents the characteristics of migrating economic entities as part of the suburbanisation of economic entities in terms of numbers and types, as well as legal and capital status. Suburbanisation of economic entities was demonstrated to have a significant impact on the distribution of economic entities, both in Wrocław and in its suburban area, throughout the period of analysis.

Mechanism for the Optimal Location of a Business as a Lever for the Development of the Economic Strength and Resilience of a City

Today, the location of a business is more important than ever, as it contributes to its consolidation in the market and, in parallel, to the economic development of a city. Over the years, the theories about the optimal location of a business have undergone various changes, both financial and spatial. On the other hand, economic geography, as a discipline that studies the distribution of economic activities as well as the interactions between them, is also an important tool for the analysis of urban/spatial and business processes. This paper finds the optimal locations of economic activities through the combination of theories of economic geography and spatial analysis, for the sake of reducing urban shrinkage and increasing the resilience of businesses and cities. The analysis of this paper proved that the areas that are most exposed to urban shrinkage are the least central areas. Urban shopping centers, despite the large percentage of closed stores, continue due to their centrality to attracting more new businesses. The calculation of the optimal location of the economic activity showed that the optimal location depends on the financial sector itself but also on the economic activities that open or close over time in this region. In this way, an answer is sought regarding the way in which each region and its economic identity can influence a city’s future development and resilience. Thus, through this analysis, cities are able to control and strengthen their economic landscapes, vulnerable as they are in difficult times, and to implement policies in specific urban units, with a view to the prosperity of their economic activities.

Impacts of high-speed rail construction on land prices in urban agglomerations: Evidence from Kyushu in Japan

High-speed rail integrates regions and cities, and thus can possibly have significant impacts on the distribution of economic activities. Using the opening and extensions of a high-speed rail, Shinkansen, in Kyushu, Japan, we examine its effects on land prices in urban agglomerations, which would reflect changes in the distribution of economic activities across urban agglomerations. We estimate hedonic price equations to conduct a difference-in-differences analysis. We find that the large metropolitan areas gained from the high-speed rail by experiencing increases in land prices, whereas small metropolitan areas located between them lost by experiencing decreased land prices. However, such positive effects are shown to be limited to areas close to Shinkansen stations.

Tunisian industrial policy, location and evolution of the industrial space of the interior regions

AbstractTunisia's industrial development policies have long been considered as a strategic axis that guarantees the economic development of different regions. The industrial policy has tried to achieve a better distribution of economic activities and to promote industrialization in the interior regions. This article studies the evolution of the industrial space of the interior regions of Tunisia. As it measured the concentration and the geographical specialization of economic activities, in connection with their further estimation on a temporal trend, using a common empirical framework that exploits an intermediate geographic level and manufacturing sectors. This approach yields evidence on the weakly diversified industrial structure of the interior and the southern governorates of Tunisia. It is proved, too, that the growth of the manufacturing industry is accompanied by huge inequalities between space units. Given the previously stated results, the industrial policies in the interior regions of Tunisia would be of considerable benefit if it solves the problem of the market and public policy failure. Thus, we strongly urge the establishment of new components of industrial policy.

Determinants of regional agroindustry and spillovers between Siberian local markets

This paper investigates the relationship between spatial distribution of economic activity and local markets of primary sector in panel of Siberian regions over the period 2005-2018, using measure of localization that is Theil index considering two hierarchical levels. Section 2 describes the data and method using geospatial toolset that we have proposed, discusses the construction model for study spatial concentration spillovers between local markets. In Section 3 we study how the processes of urbanization and growth of population density in cities and agricultural development in rural areas affect the formation of local housing markets, and as a consequence, the associated local markets for goods and resources; and the last section concludes. Keywords: economic growth, regional economics, agricultural industry, local markets, spillovers, housing market

Finance, Globalization, and Urban Primacy

We use data from 131 countries in the period 2000–14 to analyze the determinants of urban primacy, calculated as the share of the city with the largest gross domestic product (GDP) in a country in the total GDP of that country. While prior research has largely neglected the role of financial factors, we demonstrate that urban primacy is related positively to the size of financial activity. In addition, currency depreciation in relation to the US dollar is related to lower urban primacy, while gross capital outflows are related to higher urban primacy. We find that trade openness—a key indicator of globalization—also coincides with higher urban primacy, but this relationship is statistically and economically less significant than that between finance and urban primacy. Among other factors, we show that urban primacy is smaller in countries with a large population, high population density, a large agricultural sector, and a federal political structure, and particularly high in countries where primate cities have seaport functions. Our main results hold in both developed and developing countries. We discuss a wide range of mechanisms through which finance can affect urban primacy, including agglomeration economies, proximity to power, access to capital, financialization, and financial instability. In short, finance has a crucial impact on the geographic distribution of economic activity.

Исследование экономических взаимодействий в пространстве: возможности коалиционного анализа

The article is dedicated to describing the capabilities of the cooperative game theory for studying spatial distribution of economic activity. The paper discusses the features of cooperative games the spatial connotation of which drives from the fact that they formalize the conflict between the forces aimed at concentration of economic activity, and the forces aimed at its dispersion (hereinafter ‘the fundamental conflict’). The author proposes a classification of spatial cooperative games based on: 1) the method of specifying the set of players, 2) the type of solution to the fundamental conflict. The players in the models under consideration are the elements of the economic space with either a simple or a complex structure. The elements with a simple structure are economic agents with their objective functions deriving from their rational choices. The elements with a complex structure are aggregates, such as regions, economic areas, or countries. If we consider it possible to describe objective functions for such players, we should use the functions incorporating a great range of decisions made by different economic agents. The article pays special attention to justification of the usage of spatial cooperative games to model interactions between the elements of the economic space with a complex structure. In spatial cooperative games, the fundamental conflict is solved either by creating a spatial projection of economic interactions, and picking the player’s locations or by studying the delocalization of economic interactions and evaluating the coalition productivity of players. The author distinguishes four types of spatial cooperative games and for each class gives an example of a specific application of the game model. Within the given classification, the author studies game models of distribution networks, interregional interactions, service facilities location, spatial growth, and production planning for spatially concentrated firms. The conclusion is that even though spatial cooperative games are used for research on various levels of generalization, they are, first of all, useful as a means of researching the phenomena of economic activity delocalization. Thus, as far as the location theory is concerned, the games act rather as a tool that complements the optimization calculations with evaluations of stability of the obtained solutions to coalitional and migration threats. From the standpoint of the concept of interregional interactions it acts as an independent tool significant for assessing system effects and their distribution between different elements of the economic space. Furthermore, the author suggests that the future of cooperative games as a tool for research on spatial distribution of economic activity is associated with the search for statements that connect the results of analysis of economic space elements with a simple and complex structure

Evaluation of Urban Spatial Equality Based on Accessibility to Economic Activities: Beijing as a Case Study

Urban space is the spatial projection of various social and economic activities. Given the complexity of urban functions and the ongoing expansion of urban areas, the spatial differentiation of various economic activities within cities tends to become more and more clear; moreover, there tends to be spatial inequalities in resource allocation. Taking Beijing as an example, this study develops a spatial accessibility model at the town (jiedao) level by integrating the spatial distribution of economic activities with the transport system and evaluating the accessibility (at the spatial level) to various economic activities. The equality of the residents’ economic-related travel activity is also evaluated in line with the population distribution. The results show that the accessibility to economic activities generally decreases in going from the urban center to the peripheral suburbs, and this “core to edge” difference is readily apparent. In general, residents tend to choose areas to settle in which have a high degree of accessibility, however, the attractiveness of accessibility is constrained within certain limits, as evidenced by a reduction of population in the center of Beijing. Additionally, there are inequalities with respect to traveling experiences. For instance, 27.8% of residents experience very convenient travel conditions, mostly in the Xicheng, Dongcheng, and Haidian districts, and this equates to a high level of accessibility; about half of the residents in Beijing live in areas ranked as being of medium accessibility and where the distribution of economic activities and transportation facilities are insufficient. Residents living in the outlying Changping, Mentougou, Shunyi, and Fangshan districts have relatively poor access to transportation indicating a low level of accessibility. Overall, the evaluation method for spatial equality considers comprehensively the distribution of economic activities, transportation, and population distribution and can provide a reference framework for optimization of the urban spatial structure to improve urban spatial equality.

Population, light, and the size distribution of cities

AbstractWe provide new insights on the city size distribution of countries around the world. Using more than 10,000 cities delineated via geospatial data and a globally consistent city identification scheme, we investigate distributional shapes in all countries. In terms of population, we find that Zipf's law holds for many, but not all, countries. Contrasting the distribution of population with the distribution of economic activity, measured by nighttime lights, across cities we shed light on the globally variant magnitude of agglomeration economies. Deviations from Zipf's law are to a large extent driven by an undue concentration in the largest cities. They benefit from agglomeration effects which seem to work through area rather than through density. Examining the cross‐country heterogeneity in the city size distribution, our model selection approach suggests that historical factors play an important role, in line with the time of development hypothesis.

Spatial Analysis of the Possible First Serbian Conurbation

After the breakup of the former Republic of Yugoslavia, the number of inhabitants in newly formed state of Serbia has been in constant decrease. On the other hand, the number of urban areas has been growing. One of the main goals of former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the development of all the areas, including the rural ones. In the ‘60s and the ‘70s, the land with special purpose was supposed to be of the utmost importance. Urban regions were to be better connected and enlarged. The main reason for it was the distribution of economic activities as well as the process of deagrarization which had already been in progress. In 1966, the first spatial plan of a special-purpose area, being the outset of an idea in a Socialist country, was in fact the proposition of the first Yugoslav conurbation. The long forgotten project was about to be reinforced in 1996, when thirty years later the country was in a transitional period, heading towards market capitalization. After the final breakup of Yuoslavia, there was a growing need for preservation of the urban areas and large trade centers, along with the necessity of better communication among municipalities. The ambitious project in question called “Morava city”, has never been brought to life. The main purpose of this manuscript is to answer the question of the actual necessity of this potential conurbation by means of GIS methodology, qualitative and quantitative techniques, and demographic and sociological factors. Accordingly, by means of spatial analysis, the communist project is placed into post-communist environment. Finally, the manuscript focuses on the relationship between rural and urban areas, traffic connectivity, geographical position, and most importantly on the sustainability and profitability of the first Serbian conurbation.

Perpetuating regional asymmetries through income transfers

ABSTRACT This paper studies the effect of income transfers on the distribution of economic activity through a modified FE model. The model incorporates some key features of the Dutch disease literature: sectorial mobility and non-tradable goods. If foreign competition is high (high trade openness), transfers could cause a Dutch disease in the short and long runs. For intermediate levels of foreign competition, Dutch disease appears only in the short run. And, for low levels, the recipient region always benefits from the income transfers. Additionally, when economies of scale are large, the transfers could perpetuate a core–periphery structure.