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on Economic Geography |
| By: | Michael Bräuninger; Annekatrin Niebuhr |
| Abstract: | We investigate the convergence process among EU regions between 1980-2002 taking into account the effects of spatial heterogeneity and spatial spillover effects. The spatial regimes model allows for different steady-state growth paths. In contrast to previous analyses, the regimes in this paper refer to spatial categories, i.e. we assume that agglomerations, urbanised and rural regions are characterised by group-specific steady-states. Moreover, the regression analysis considers the effects of interaction among neighbouring regions, possibly leading to a spatial dependence of regional growth rates. We check whether spatial dependence is caused by spatial spillovers or bases on country effects. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p528&r=geo |
| By: | Evert Meijers |
| Abstract: | In many European countries, territorial development strategies identify the development potential of so-called polycentric urban regions: regions in which a multitude of more or less similar-sized, formerly independent and distinct cities are located close to each other and among which functional relationships seem to be on the increase. Often, such polycentric urban regions are referred to using metaphors as city networks or urban networks. Well-known examples are the Randstad and Brabantstad in the Netherlands and the Flemish Diamond in Belgium. Taken together, the cities of such a region would provide for more critical mass and more agglomeration economies so that the region can compete on a higher level. In order to exploit the potentialities of such regions, often co-operation links have been forged between the cities. From a geographical perspective, applying the network metaphor to such a regional collection of cities seems only appropriate when the regional spatial structure corresponds to what has been labelled as the ‘Network Model’ (Batten, 1995; Van der Knaap, 2002). It could be argued that the presence of a networked spatial structure is necessary for a polycentric urban region to be more than just a collection of cities. One of the defining characteristics of the network model is that the cities, or the activities and places within them, should complement each other. The paper addresses this issue of complementarity in polycentric urban regions, focussing on the regional structure of urban facilities such as hospital care, higher education and the cultural sector in Dutch polycentric urban regions. The paper will demonstrate how spatially relevant decisions taken within these micro-sectors alter, on a macro-level, the spatial structure of the polycentric urban region. The question is whether these lead to less duplication and, through differentiation, to a higher extent of complementarity. In other words, are polycentric urban regions as the Randstad turning into urban networks? |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p208&r=geo |
| By: | Hajime Takatsuka; Dao-Zhi Zeng |
| Abstract: | This paper examines a new economic geography model with multiple (three) industries and urban costs. The industries are asymmetric in their transport costs. The following results were obtained. First, if transport costs sufficiently decrease whereas commuting costs are constant, we have three stable location patterns; full dispersion, partial regional specialization, and complete regional specialization. Second, if commuting costs sufficiently decrease (resp. increase) whereas transport costs are constant, we have full agglomeration (resp. full dispersion). The cases with medium value of transport and commuting costs and with multiple (three) regions are analyzed by use of numerical simulation. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p448&r=geo |
| By: | Arie Romein |
| Abstract: | The urban landscape in advanced economies transforms from monocentric cities to polycentric urban networks on regional scale. The growing amount of research that is being devoted to this transformation sticks to classic activity systems like residential development, economic production and employment and commuting. Synchronous to this transformation, a 'new' activity system, outdoor leisure and entertainment, increasingly leaves its stamp on the economic performance and spatial organisation of urban areas in general. Due to tremendous dynamics of consumption, production, and urban politics with regard to this activity system, it is subject of a composite of spatial pressures for centralisation in inner-cites, de-concentration away form central cities and (re-)concentration in suburbs and exurban places. Notwithstanding this composite spatial dynamics, leisure and entertainment are not part of the research agenda on regional polycentric urban networks. Based on brief overviews of literature on both polycentric urban development and the dynamics of leisure and entertainment in urban areas, this paper presents a few basic research questions in order to initiate the research agenda on the contribution of the leisure activity system to the development of polycentric urban networks on regional scale. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p249&r=geo |
| By: | Wilfried Koch |
| Abstract: | Recent theoretical and empirical work generally often focus on the interdependence of nations and regions underlying that the economy of one country or region is not independent of the economies of others. However, these models generally ignores the impact of location and neighborhood in explaining growth. This paper presents an augmented Solow model that includes spatial externalities and spatial interdependence among economies. We obtain a spatial econometric reduce form which allows testing the effects of the rate of saving and the rate of population growth on income per capita. Finally, we use the propriety of spatial multiplier effect in order to evaluate the impact of a shock on saving rate on european regional disparities. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p723&r=geo |
| By: | Lourens Broersma; Jan Oosterhaven |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the extent to which diversification and agglomeration effects account for regional differences in labour productivity levels and labour productivity growth. Using a large set of regional data for The Netherlands for 40 labour market areas between 1990-2001 we find that roughly 60% of the explained variation in regional productivity differences and 55% of the regional growth differences can be attributed to indicators of diversification and agglomeration effects. A sensitivity analysis shows that these effects are fairly robust. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p31&r=geo |
| By: | Sasha Thomas; Ian Robins |
| Abstract: | The economic performance of city-regions is closely linked to the performance of the national economy. However, the performance of the national economy can also depend on the performance of one or more major city-regions, that act as growth poles. Because of their sectoral structure and other characteristics, some cities are better equipped to become growth poles than others. This paper studies 46 major city-regions across Europe. The sectoral structure and changes in the sectoral structure of city-regions are studied using data from CE’s European Regional Database, itself based on Eurostat’s Regio database. The data analysis attempts to explain city-region performance by drawing parallels between sectoral structure and economic performance. The data analysis is supplemented by local anecdotal evidence provided by CE’s annual European reporting system ‘European Regional Prospects’, for example the historical importance of river and seafront activities. The paper goes on to discuss the extent to which the sectoral structure of cities can explain why some city-regions grow faster than others. The data analysis will be used to group cities in ‘hard’ typologies according to sectoral specialisation. These sectoral typologies are then compared with typologies according to the local, ‘softer’, evidence provided by CE’s regional consultants. This evidence will also be used to draw out the more subtle influences on city-region growth and these will be used to group cities in ‘soft’ typologies. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p588&r=geo |
| By: | Joeri Gorter; Albert Van der Horst |
| Abstract: | There are doubts about the effectiveness of regional policy. Well known are the vain attempts of Italy to bridge the gap between the Mezzogiorno and the North, of Germany to bridge the gap between the Neue Länder and the West, and of the European Commission to reduce regional disparities in general. We validate a salient explanation for the lack of effectiveness: agglomeration advantages lock business activity in relatively prosperous core regions, even though wages and production costs tend to be higher there. On the basis of the `New Economic Geography' - a set of general equilibrium models that focus on location choice - in combination with descriptive statistics and econometric analysis, we conclude that the European economic geography is characterized by a network of local and stable core-periphery systems. Since regional policy tend to be insufficient to counter centripetal market forces, disparities between cores and their peripheries at a subprovincial level of regional aggregation are with us to stay. Moreover, if regional policy does have an impact, it may be adverse as some policies targeted on peripheral regions trigger location choices in favour of core regions. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p236&r=geo |
| By: | Frédéric Gaschet; Julie Le Gallo |
| Abstract: | Over the post-war period, urban growth has exhibited complex spatial patterns including both population spread and employment suburbanization from the central city towards the suburbs, both in US and European metropolitan areas. An important literature, based on North-American metropolitan areas, has also highlighted the strong link existing between this process of suburbanization and the reinforcement of socio-spatial segregation against poor populations living in the central cities (Kain, 1992; Ihlandfeldt and Sjoquist, 1998). On the contrary, European cities do not usually follow this pattern: populations with high income remain localized in and near the city center while urban sprawl mainly concerns households with modest incomes. While the intensity and characteristics of spatial segregation has been extensively documented for US urban areas (Cutler and Glaeser, 1997) and mainly concerns segregation along the ethnic dimension (Taeuber and Taeuber, 1965; Massey and Denton, 1993), studies investigating the specificities of the segregation phenomenon in European cities in general, and French cities in particular, remain scarce (Rhein, 1998; Guermond and Lajoie, 1999; Préteceille, 2001). In this context, the aim of this paper is to analyze the intra-urban spatial segregration in terms of nationality, employment, socio-professional categories and income in four French urban poles: Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and Dijon. More precisely, we are interested in answering the following questions. First, how does spatial segregation vary for these different measures and across the four urban poles? Second, what are the spatial patterns of segregation within each urban pole? In order to answer these questions, two steps are necessary. The first step involves computing global segregation indices for the different variables and urban poles. In particular, we focus on the Duncan and Duncan’s (1955) segregation and dissimilarity indices and their spatial versions (Wong, 1993), White’s (1983) index and Gini’s measure. Since these measures are global, the second step consists in identifying the spatial patterns involved. In that purpose, we compute entropy indices, which are local segregation indices that reflect the diversity within each unit and that can be mapped to show the spatial variations of segregation among the units of the four urban poles. The paper is organized as follows. First, we discuss the measures of spatial segregation used in this paper. Then we present the study areas, the data and the spatial weight matrix used to perform the analysis. The empirical results are divided in two parts: first, we compute global measures of spatial segregation for nationality, employment, socio-professional categories and income for our four urban poles and second, we display the local spatial segregation indices. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p704&r=geo |
| By: | Tuba Inal Cekic; Ferhan Gezici |
| Abstract: | Globalization had a significant effect on socio-economic and spatial changes in Istanbul as the largest city of Turkey following the trends in other cities of the world since the beginning of 1980. In this transformation process which the city center was dislocated and the land rapidly opened for new demands, while the construction sector flowed to business spaces like office blocks, department stores, and five-star hotels; construction companies that prospered ventured to major housing projects in the urban periphery. Therefore, high-income group left the city center due to low quality of life in inner-city areas caused by the drawbacks of rapid urbanization such as intensive residential areas, lack of open and green sites, traffic and parking problems, increasing crime rates. These high-income group housing areas which are brought a new sight as “gated communities”, mostly developed towards the north where the natural resources e.g. forest and water basin of Istanbul Metropolitan Area are located and became a new issue while squatter settlements are still concerned. However, they are planned as individual projects with their own security systems and modern comfortable components; they developed without integration to the metropolitan master plan. The aim of the paper is to examine locational preferences and planning process of high-income group housing projects and prove their effects on the transformation of urban periphery. Their effects on the land values and the role of the central and local governments on this process are examined. Furthermore, this paper attempts to make a contribution to the literature on gated communities by taking account of their spatial impacts. The main findings of paper put forward that existing high-income group housing projects became attraction points for new projects and affected on land use and transportation pattern, while becoming new threats for natural resources of metropolitan periphery. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p41&r=geo |
| By: | Eduardo Haddad; Fernando Perobelli |
| Abstract: | This paper focuses on the spatial impacts of barriers to trade, in the form of tariffs, in a national economy. More specifically, we are concerned with the spatial impediments for the internal transmission of the potential benefits of trade liberalization, in the form of high transportation costs that the more remote regions face. The strategy adopted in this research utilizes a spatial CGE model integrated to a geo-coded transportation model to evaluate shifts in the economic center of gravity and regional specialization in the Brazilian economy due to further liberal tariff policies. Comparative advantage is grasped through the use of differential regional production technologies; geographical advantage is verified through the explicit modeling of the transportation services, as well as increasing returns associated to agglomeration economies; and cumulative causation appears through the operation of internal and external multipliers and interregional spillover effects. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p700&r=geo |
| By: | Joan Carles Martori; Karen Hoberg; Jordi Suriñach |
| Abstract: | Given the important growth of immigrants in Spain it would be interesting to study its distribution throughout the urban area. Statistics suggest different large traditional indices allowing to quantify the segregation of minority population groups. Segregation can be measured from the different points of view and a new segregation perspective can be obtained by the utilisation of innovative indices including spatial statistics elements, as well as local indicators of spatial association (LISA). Through the application of these tools on the Barcelona and its metropolitan region case, its utilities in the analysis of resident segregation in a town are shown and segregation patterns are found out. The results point out that the segregation differs depending on the observed group. The combination of all these measures represents a useful proceeding in the analysis of the distribution of immigrants in the urban zones and its convenience extends to the different areas like sociology, economics, city planning or housing policies. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p225&r=geo |
| By: | Annekatrin Niebuhr |
| Abstract: | EU enlargement is supposed to entail profound impact on the location of economic activities in Europe. Although there is concern about the implications of enlargement for regional disparities in the EU, corresponding empirical results are still rare. The objective of this analysis is to provide empirical evidence on enlargement effects with a special focus on border regions in the EU27 since they are likely to play a critical role within the spatial dynamics initiated by integration. Departing from a three-region economic geography model we investigate whether changes in market access released by integration result in above-average integration benefits in internal border regions. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p114&r=geo |
| By: | Ana Paula Delgado; Isabel Maria Godinho |
| Abstract: | In this paper we study the evolution of the Portuguese urban system from 1864 to 2001. We apply the rank-size model and use rank-size estimates to describe the evolution of city-size hierarchy. Non paretian behaviour of the distribution is examined by adding a quadratic term to the basic equation of the model. Our results enhance two different processes in the evolution of urban system: until the middle of the twentieth century urban growth was accompanied by population concentration in the largest cities and proliferation of small cities; afterwards growth benefits middle size cities, reinforced in the last decades by heavy population losses in the two largest cities. From the association between the characteristics and evolving pattern of city size distribution and the spatial pattern of urban growth, it appears that the non paretian behaviour of city size distribution in the last decades can be linked to the particular growth process of cities located in the proximity of the central cities of the two metropolitan areas of Portugal’s mainland. In order to obtain a better understanding of the dynamics of the Portuguese urban system we examine the movements in the ranking of cities. We also analyse the existence of spatial correlation in the process of urban hierarchy restructuring. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p490&r=geo |
| By: | Ricardo Ruiz; Edson Domingues |
| Abstract: | There is considerable evidence to demonstrate that the industrial localization in developing countries shows high level of spatial concentration, and the industrial decentralization is quite restricted to few isolated regions. The aim of this paper is to analyze the Brazilian case to identify the industrial cores and to find out whether Brazil follows this conventional view on industrial location in developing countries. This study is based on a database that merges two sets of data: the first describes 35000 industrial firms, and the second has information on the economic, social and urban structure of 5500 cities (year 2000). Based on these datasets, the industrial cores and their respective peripheries are identified, classified, and discussed. The main preliminary conclusions are: (1) Brazil has several industrial cores with different scales, structures, and regional level of integration; (2) there are regions with growing industrial peripheries that are strongly tied to the primary cores; these are what we called “industrial axes”; (3) however, we also identified regions that did not manage to build peripheries able to assimilate spillovers generated by its industrial centers; these are the “industrial islands”. Our main conclusion is: the Brazilian economic space is a mixed case. It is not a set of disconnected or isolated industrial islands, but it is still behind a full regional economic integration. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p63&r=geo |
| By: | Frank Van Oort; Otto Raspe |
| Abstract: | How can cities and metropolitan regions remain prosperous and competitive in a rapidly changing economy? In our paper we argue that ‘the knowledge economy’ offers perspectives for growth and added value creation. The paper clarifies what elements the knowledge economy actually consists of, how it can be measured in statistical indicators, in which regions and cities in the Netherlands the knowledge economy has its most significant imprints and what statistical association there is between these regions and cities and relatively good economic performance of firms. We test two contrasting hypotheses often heard in the international literature. The current embedding of knowledge externalities in endogenous economic growth theory have led to important contributions that stress the urban character knowledge transmission in particular. The reasoning is that if knowledge spillovers and –externalities are important to growth and innovation, they should be more easily identified in cities where many people are concentrated into a relatively small geographic space so that knowledge can be transmitted between them more easily. Much recent research indeed finds a limited extent of spatial spillovers and a large degree of local clustering. Alternatively, a large body of literature on Western spatial configurations of innovation and high-technology firms predominantly stresses the supposed ‘urban field’ character of firm performance: location and agglomeration aspects do not seem to have a systematic impact on the distribution of innovative and growth inducing activities over space. We test the urban hypothesis using spatial econometric modeling techniques. On the one hand, the fact that a distance squared distance weight matrix in spatial lag estimations fits the performance data best in relation to knowledge economy factors indicates that spatial relations are limited and urban fixed. On the other hand, the significance of several spatial regimes though (especially those of the Randstad core region, the so-called intermediate zone and medium-sized cities) indicates that the urban structure related to the knowledge economy and economic performance is not straightforward hierarchical (largest cities are not the relatively most attached to the knowledge economy). Both hypotheses (urban and non-urban) are too extreme to fit the Dutch situation. We also conclude that the locational attributes of the factor ‘knowledge workers’ are much more significantly related to economic growth and added value (in practically all specifications over regimes and spatial lag estimations) than the R&D-based innovation input factor. This questions Dutch policy initiatives that mainly focus on R&D as stimulator of the ‘knowledge economy’. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p165&r=geo |
| By: | Ferhan Gezici; Berna Keskin |
| Abstract: | The changing economic processes in the world have been affected on both the regions within a country and regions as a group of countries. In the regional development literature, although it is emphasized that globalization will enhance the development of advantages-rich regions, there are some other approaches assuming that increasing economic interaction and technological improvements will help to develop relatively less developed-peripheral regions as well. Furthermore, the studies, which are analyzing interregional disparities, put forward the significant impact of factor movements. Interregional migration has been considered as a significant issue of metropolitan regions on the one hand and the loss of workforce in the less-developed regions on the other hand. Migration has been one of the significant factors in order to explain the spatial aspects of economic development. The aim of this paper is, to evaluate inter-provincial migration related to their development levels and their geographical locations in Turkey. In order to measure the interaction between interregional disparities and migration pattern, the findings of regression analysis, which are constituted by using several socio-economic indicators, will be displayed. Furthermore, it is examined the assumption that geographical locations of provinces have an effect and cause not only their levels of development, but migration trends as well. Therefore, locating in the western regions, being a coastal province and being close to the metropolitan cities are the main locational advantages for immigration. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p132&r=geo |
| By: | Michael Beenstock; Daniel Felsenstein |
| Abstract: | This paper stresses the importance of accounting for regional heterogenity in the dynamic analysis of regional economic disparities. Studies of regional growth invariably presume regions are homogenous in that their socio-demographic composition is assumed to be broadly similar. We argue that any analysis of regional convergence needs to be tested conditionally, i.e. conditional upon the socio-demographic structure of the workers in the various regions. To this end, we estimate various measures of conditional regional earnings inequality using Israeli regional data for the period 1991-2002. Our results show that much of the regional earnings inequality may be accounted for by the conditioning variables. Both in measures of regional convergence and regional mobility, conditioning makes a large difference to the results accounting for up to half of the observed levels of inequality. Ignoring regional heterogeneity may therefore lead to serious over-estimation of the underlying level of regional inequality. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p307&r=geo |
| By: | Manfred M. Fischer; Claudia Stirböck |
| Abstract: | Club-convergence analysis provides a more realistic and detailed picture about regional income growth than traditional convergence analysis. This paper presents a spatial econometric framework for club-convergence testing that relates the concept of club-convergence to the notion of spatial heterogeneity. The study provides evidence for the club-convergence hypothesis in cross-regional growth dynamics from a pan-European perspective. The conclusions are threefold. First, we reject the standard Barro-style regression model which underlies most empirical work on regional income convergence, in favour of a two regime [club] alternative in which different regional economies obey different linear regressions when grouped by means of Getis and Ord's (1992) local clustering technique. Second, the results point to a heterogeneous pattern in the pan-European convergence process. Heterogeneity appears in both the convergence rate and the steady-state level. But, third, the study also reveals that spatial error dependence introduces an important bias in our perception of the club-convergence and shows that neglection of this bias would give rise to misleading conclusions. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p6&r=geo |
| By: | Cem Ertur; Wilfried Koch |
| Abstract: | This paper presents a theoretical model, based on the neoclassical growth literature, which explicitly takes into account technological interdependence among economies and examines the impact of location and neighborhood effects in explaining growth. Technological interdependence is supposed working through spatial externalities. The magnitude of the physical capital externalities at steady state, which is usually not identified in the literature, is estimated using a spatial econometric specification explaining the steady state income level. This spatially augmented Solow model yields a conditional convergence equation which is characterized by parameter heterogeneity. A locally linear spatial autoregressive specification is then estimated. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p651&r=geo |
| By: | Ivana Rasic-Bakaric; Marijana Sumpor; Jelena Sisinacki |
| Abstract: | Who should take care of local economic development in Croatia? This question seems trivial, however, there are still some open questions. According to current legislation, local economic development is an administrative task of the 21 counties, the current units of regional self-government. On the other hand, the cities and municipalities as units of local self-government regularly get involved in economic development activities, though this is not directly defined in the legislation. There is a contradiction concerning development capacity of cities and counties. Cities attract population and economic activity and are usually stronger than counties in terms of financial and human resources that are necessary for economic development activities. This research will question if the existing administrative-territorial setup and functions of counties in Croatia correspond to the needs of economic growth and development on local level. It is also intended to get some insights from contemporary concepts that derive from trade theory, location theory and economic geography. Governance relations between bigger cities and counties in fostering local economic development in Croatia will be examined. For this purpose, local and regional data will be analyzed and through the discussion on existing governance structures, qualitative insights on the appropriateness of the current situation will be presented. The main goal of this research paper is to find quantitative and qualitative justification for an appropriate governance structure for fostering local economic development in Croatia. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p391&r=geo |
| By: | Øystein Engebretsen |
| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to discuss the interaction of location and daily mobility in cities. According to previous research the length of daily travel and the amount of car use in cities are influenced by urban density and residential location, thus focusing on urban sprawl as one of the main challenges for sustainable urban planning. However, during the last 10-15 years it has been more popular to settle in the inner city areas of Norwegian cities. This re-urbanisation has resulted in a stabilization of the urban density and a growth of the settlement in less car dependent areas. Nevertheless the car traffic is increasing. One reason for this may be the location of activities. Compared to the influence of urban density and residential location, the location of business and other activities seems to be an equally (or more) important causal factor for differences in daily mobility and increased car use. The paper presents analyses of travel behaviour in the cities of Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim. The main focus is on how travel behaviour is affected by the location of homes (trip origin), the location of trip destinations, the accessibility with car and public transport, and the access to work place parking. The analysis is based on a database containing merged data from four large travel surveys conducted in 2001. In the travel surveys the origins and destinations are geocoded with reference to census units. This gives unbiased information about where the trips started and ended, and thus makes it possible to analyse the interaction of location and daily mobility. The analysis is carried out through using GIS based travel survey maps and other spatial analysing techniques. To some extent, the results support the planning philosophy underlying the Dutch ABC planning model that was introduced 15 years ago. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p577&r=geo |
| By: | Alexandre Porsse; Eduardo Haddad |
| Abstract: | Tax incentives are common instruments in regional policies used to attract new investments and promote increase in employment and income, but the impact on regional public finances is very controversial. This paper uses an interregional computable general equilibrium model for the Brazilian economy to evaluate the net effects of tax incentives on the regional government revenues. The model takes into account the structural relationships between two regions and the specific characteristics of the Brazilian federalism that affects regional public finances. The theoretical specification allows capturing indirect and induced effects of the new investments and the net output of such incentive policies for the regional government revenues. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p733&r=geo |
| By: | Leonie Janssen-Jansen; Melika Levelt |
| Abstract: | Regional planning initiatives emerge in response to a growing number of land use and related issues that transcent political and jurisdictional boundaries and often involve business and non-profit organizations. Cities are no longer central is planning discussions. Urban networks reflect better the new spatial dynamics. Regional planning strategies are sought to link the public and private spheres of this urban networks action. An important starting point is to organize relations between the relevant and different governmental bodies in the multi-level and multi agency society. How can the abundance of subterritorial governmental bodies be connected, especially within the light of decentralisation processes that are going on? In addition an important question is how this public sphere can be linked to the sphere of private regional action. What are important elements in strategies of ‘organizing connectivity’? Will ‘pragmatic regionalism with a purpose’ be an interesting strategy? In the light of this growing interest in acting regionally, this paper offers insights in motives for such regionalism. A framework to identify and promote best practices for regional collaboration, with attention for vertical as well as horizontal connectedness within the public sphere, as well as linking this public to the private sphere of regional action will be central. Several motives and principles that might be beneficiary for regional collaboration are dealt with. The case of Schiphol and Amsterdam in the Netherlands, as an important international transport cluster, will function as illustration. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p292&r=geo |
| By: | Jaap Vleugel |
| Abstract: | Land is regarded as an important location factor by business firms. Firms change location due to internal and external factors and these changes should be accommodated by spatial reservations, subsequent land development and finally building of offices, plants or transhipment sheds. Business use of land competes with other uses of land, such as housing, leisure or nature. Spatial planning tries to balance these demands. Its success depends on finding criteria to justify a certain balance between economic and ecological interests or between different economic interests. Land-use should be included into a discussion about environmental sustainability. Spatial optimization would come at the agenda of firms and governments more often than is the case now. Yet, there is the issue of economic dynamics, which could be reduced if not all demands for new land are accommodated, at least according to business. This paper introduces a research program into the linkages between regional-economic-and spatial planning. It discusses the main ideas of this research program. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p429&r=geo |
| By: | Angels Pelegrin-Sole; Catalina Bolancé |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the role that agglomeration economies play as location determinants in manufacturing foreign direct investment, with special emphasis on inter-industry heterogeneity. The analysis reveals that agglomeration economies are significant determinants of the regional distribution of manufacturing FDI, and that the nature and importance of locational determinants vary according to the specific needs of each industry. In short manufacturing agglomeration and location economies are the most important location factors, especially in industries with high level of linkages and in R&D intensive sectors. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p216&r=geo |
| By: | Dubravka Jurlina Alibegovic |
| Abstract: | The major goal of this paper is to give an overview on the most important issues regarding intergovernmental fiscal relations and regional inequalities in Croatia. The first section will give a general background for analysis of intergovernmental fiscal relations. In order to achieve this, the present model of financing of the local and regional self-government units, the number and size of local and regional governments and distribution of functions and revenue sources among levels of government in Croatia will be presented. The second section will elaborate regional inequalities in Croatia measured by several indicators. The aim is to find out degree of correlation among intergovernmental finance system, especially the current grant and equalization system, and regional inequalities in Croatia. The paper will conclude with a summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the overall intergovernmental fiscal relations and regional inequalities. This last section will offer several recommendations aiming at the improvement of intergovernmental finance and reduction of regional inequalities in Croatia. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p86&r=geo |
| By: | Harry Coccossis; Mary Constantoglou |
| Abstract: | Greek tourism has been developed since the 70’s. Main scope of this development was the economic support of areas with rich natural and cultural capital. This process has created a number of effects (positive and negative ones) at the destination areas mainly because of the lack of integrated planning. The necessity for tourism planning in local, regional and national scale is obvious, especially when the main objective is the preservation and the competitiveness of the destination areas. Tourism development is differentiated from place to place and tourism policy must reflect that. A spatial typology for tourism development is necessary in order to develop sharper policy measures. In this paper we will examine a spatial typology that has been created for the Greek coasts for policy making. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p693&r=geo |
| By: | Paul Cheshire; Stefano Magrini |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates growth differences in the urban system of the EU12 between the means of 1978/80 and 1992/94. Models in which growth of real GDP p.c. is the dependent variable perform well and make it possible to test significant hypotheses. The analysis supports the conclusion that systems of urban governance are strongly related to growth. The variables are formulated in a way which tests hypotheses derived from ‘fiscal federalism’ viewing growth promotion as the production of a local public good. Evidence is also found supporting a spatial adaptation of the endogenous growth model with the relative size of the university sector having a highly significant role in explaining growth differences. Careful testing for spatial dependence reveals that national borders are significant barriers to adjustment but including explicit spatial effects resolves the specification problems. Density of urbanisation in some parts of the EU12 produces a local ‘growth shadow’ effect consistent with dynamic agglomeration economies and with commuting flows having an important role in spatial economic adjustment processes where cities are densely packed. In addition, evidence is found supporting the conclusion that integration shocks in the EU favour core areas but that this effect tends to fade with time. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p13&r=geo |
| By: | José L. Calvo |
| Abstract: | The article analyses the role played by size and innovation in the growth of industrial employment in Spain during the period 1998-2002. The analysis is conducted using two different approaches: first of all, it studies the relationship, for seventeen Spanish regions, between industrial employment growth and the share of small firms and the presence of high and medium-high technological industries, following Camagni and Capello methodology. Secondly, it uses microdata, at firm level, in order to estimate the significance of size and innovation in the employment growth of those firms, also including regional variables for better explain the changes in employment. The results at regional level for the Spanish case show that there is no a relationship between industrial employment growth and the share of small firms and technological development of the regions. Similar results are obtained estimating a Heckman model using microdata. Independently of the definition of employment used, Gibrat´s law is accepted, showing that size is not a significant variable in order to explain the growth of firms. On the contrary, innovation, specially process innovation, plays an important role in the survival and growth behaviour. The regional variables are not significant, exception made of the share of industry in total employment of regions: the bigger the industrial sector, the higher the growth of employment at firm level. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p51&r=geo |
| By: | Signe Jauhiainen |
| Abstract: | There is empirical evidence (see e.g. Costa & Kahn 2000) that the educational background of both spouses has an effect on regional concentration. Finnish people have been migrating to urban regions. Especially higher education graduates prefer to live in cities. Because of this process human capital is concentrated in urban regions. Regional concentration of human capital can also be looked from a family perspective. A higher education graduate often has a spouse who has also graduated from university. In this situation the family moves to a region where they can find satisfying jobs. This study examines the residential choice of couples in which both spouses have higher education degree. The aim of this study is to find out where these couples live. In addition, families with different educational backgrounds are compared. The comparison might tell about the reasons of a family’s residential choice. Micro level data is used in empirical analysis. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p122&r=geo |
| By: | Jasper Willigers; Han Floor; Bert Van Wee |
| Abstract: | With the upcoming implementation of high-speed railway infrastructure in the Netherlands, interest has arisen in the spatial-economic effects this might have. Experiences with high-speed rail outside the Netherlands have shown that effects at a local or regional level can be important, due to relocation of employment within regions and cities. This paper focuses on this issue by presenting the results of discrete choice models for office location choice. Both stated choice data and revealed choice data are used. The discrete location choice models give information on to what extent the introduction of high-speed rail in the Netherlands can change the attractiveness of individual cities within the Randstad area on the one hand and of places within these cities on the other hand. As accessibility is an important concept in this topic, attention is given to the specification of accessibility indicators. Hereby, distinction is made between centrality and connectivity. Centrality refers to the position of a location within the transport network and relative to possible origins and destinations. Potential accessibility indicators based on a spatial interaction model are used to represent centrality. Connectivity refers to how well a location is connected to a transport network. Indicators for connectivity are for example the distance to the nearest railway station or motorway access ramp and also the level-of-service provided, such as the train frequency at a station. Furthermore, the paper focuses on a segmentation of employment that reflects this paper’s purpose of studying the influence of (high-speed) rail on location choices. Whereas accessibility by car is relevant for location choices of all types of office employment, accessibility by rail in general and accessibility by high-speed rail in particular seem important to more distinct groups of office employment. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p308&r=geo |
| By: | Toni Mora |
| Abstract: | Growth literature has considered the existence of groups of economies which have been termed convergence clubs. Literature confirms their existence for European regional case. This paper has focused on how conditioning factors are influencing European regional GDPpc distribution. The estimation of conditioned stochastic kernels is the optimum methodology to consider whole distribution or partial conditionings |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p302&r=geo |
| By: | Aldert De Vries; Ries Van der Wouden |
| Abstract: | Dutch society does not accept high levels of income segregation. This tendency has repeatedly been revealed in public opinion surveys. Dutch government intervenes on different levels trying to mix low and high income groups both between cities and suburbs, as well as within city neighborhoods. The question is to what extent the assumptions on actual concentration and differentiation of different income groups hold true if compared to real figures. This paper publishes income data at 500 by 500 meter cells, showing significant spatial patterns of distribution and growth of low and high income groups. Remarkably, high income groups appear to be more segregated than low income groups. All Dutch central city areas have regained high income groups in the period 1995-2000, while the reverse happens in all other city neighborhoods. Despite those tendencies, large parts of the cities have a mixed composition of low, medium and high income groups. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p597&r=geo |
| By: | Michael Fritsch; Pamela Mueller |
| Abstract: | We investigate regional differences in the level and the development of regional new business formation activity. There is pronounced variance of start-up rates across regions. The level of regional new firm formation activity is rather path-dependent so that changes are relatively small. The main factors determining the level of regional start-up activity are innovation and entrepreneurship. In addition unemployment seems to play a role. These factors also appear to be responsible for changes in the level of regional new business formation activity and could be an appropriate starting point for policy measures trying to promote start-ups. Our empirical evidence strongly suggests that such measures may have significant effect only in the long run. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p706&r=geo |
| By: | Paul Cheshire; Stefano Magrini |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates differences in the rate of growth of population across the large city-regions of the EU12 between 1980 and 2000. The US model which assumes perfect factor mobility does not seem well adapted to European conditions. There is evidence strongly suggesting that equilibrating migration flows between cities in different countries are highly constrained in the EU. However, quality of life motives do seem to be a significant and important feature of differential population growth rates if measured relative to national rather than EU12 values. Once other factors are allowed for, a systematic and highly significant factor determining rates of urban population growth is climatic variation. Cities with better weather than that of their countries have systematically tended to gain population over the past 20 years once other factors – including natural rates of increase in the areas of each country outside the major cities - are allowed for: there is no such effect for climate variables if expressed relative to the value of the EU12 as a whole. On the other hand, there is evidence that the systematic spatial gains from European integration are reflected in a city’s population growth. The results are tested for spatial dependence and remain robust. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p12&r=geo |
| By: | Ludger Gailing |
| Abstract: | Urban agglomerations all over Europe are growing at the expense of the surrounding landscapes. Given the enormous growth of built-up land for settlement and transport use within recent decades in Western and Southern Europe and, more recently, comparable trends within Central and Eastern European EU accession states landscape and open space policy in urban regions is an emerging core issue and action field for targeted sustainable spatial development (Office for Publications of the European Communities 1999). For European urban regions strategies and instruments to secure and improve open spaces play an important role because quality of life, the image of the region as well as international competitive capacity are tightly linked with the existence of valuable open space structures. Although Germany has a comparatively well-developed system of landscape protection (e.g. landscape planning, nature protection) and inclusion of landscape issues in the political instruments of town and regional planning, every day 105 ha of open space is transformed into sealed land. Conflicts between ecological and socio-economic aspects tend to obstruct the implementation of traditional landscape policy instruments, which frequently ignore the multifunctionality of urban landscapes (Apolinarski/Gailing/Röhring 2004). For these reasons in some urban regions protagonists involved in landscape policy have recognized that metropolitan open space depends not only on the top-down approach of public landscape protection, but also on active landscape management and development. They have established Regional parks in order to enhance the value of open spaces by means of project-oriented regional management. Improving living conditions and mobilising urban landscape is to be achieved by the collaborative implementation of local projects and by overcoming problems of institutional interplay (Young 2002) between fields such as local recreation, sustainable agriculture, nature protection, protection of cultural heritage or landscape architecture. In the sense of multifunctional landscape management individual open space interests are integrated and the status of open space is strengthened in a holistic approach. Former “residual space” can thus acquire a lobby in formal planning processes. Case studies of the “Berlin-Brandenburger Regionalparks”, the “Regionalpark RheinMain” and the “Emscher Landschaftspark” demonstrate that Regional parks are an innovative form of regional governance in agglomerations and urban surroundings (Gailing 2004). Despite problems like the underestimation of agricultural land use or the dependence on public finances, Regional parks can be identified as efficient tools to strengthen the status of the landscape in urban and regional policies. By bridging the gap between conception and implementation they are complementary to existing formal planning processes. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p100&r=geo |
| By: | Bjarne Madsen; Chris Jensen-Butler |
| Abstract: | The paper examines adaptations to regional accounts used to construct regional and interregional Social Accounting Matrices (SAMs). Balancing procedures for commodities and factors are transferred from National to Regional accounts and procedures to construct spatial data on interaction are also included in the data-building process. Both involve a novel approach using the geographical concepts of place of production for production activities, place of residence for institutions, market place for commodities and market place for factors. The use of these concepts permits accounting balances to be calculated at the spatial level. It is argued that as the size of basic areal unit used in studies declines, more traditional accounting approaches are no longer satisfactory. The theoretical basis of the spatial regional accounting model is presented and an example of the construction of a Danish Interregional SAM (SAM-K) is examined, where particular attention is given to data requirements, showing that these are much more modest than generally assumed. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p328&r=geo |
| By: | Yoshitaka Kajita; Satoshi Toi; Hiroshi Tatsumi |
| Abstract: | Land use is changeable in the urban area, depending upon the economical mechanism of market. The controlled urbanization area is made a region where the urbanization should be controlled by the city planning and zoning act. However, in the zone, there are also many areas where form regulation of the building is looser than the urbanization zone which should form a city area. Therefore disorderly development acts, such as location of the large-scale commercial institution and leisure facilities unsuitable for circumference environment, are accepted in the controlled urbanization area. On the other hand, energies decrease in existing village by population decrease and declining birthrate and a growing proportion of elderly people become a problem. In order to cope with this problem, it is important to understand the past conditions of land use for the urban planning. This paper describes the spatial structure of urbanization control districts based on the present conditions and the change structure of land use by using mesh data surveyed and the copy of the development permission register in a local hub-city in Japan. Land use forecasting systems are designed using neural network. Although land use is classified separately in every surveyed year, the common classification of land use is proposed, considering the similarity of spatial distributions and the physical meanings of land use. Then, the distribution by mesh at each division of land use is studied. Spatial distribution of land use and its transition are also discussed. Next, land use forecasting models are made out using neural network. The feature and structure of change in the land use of an area depends on whether development projects are carried out or not. Therefore, all of the meshes are divided into two groups, and forecasting models are designed. Though our proposed approach is a macroscopic forecasting method of land use, it is useful in the investigation of urban policies for development projects and in the evaluation of their effects. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p415&r=geo |
| By: | Aikaterini Kokkinou |
| Abstract: | There is a huge literature for the role and the implications of entrepreneurship on innovation activities and economic growth, through ‘regional systems of innovation’. This paper attempts to define the main determinant factors of entrepreneurial and innovation activities. In particular, the paper attempts to analyze, using an econometric approach, the effects of entrepreneurship on innovation activities and furthermore to clarify the implication on regional system of innovation, competitiveness, modernization process and regional growth. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p419&r=geo |
| By: | Wolfgang Loibl; Klaus Steinnocher; Tanja Tötzer; Christian Hoffmann |
| Abstract: | The paper discusses research carried out within the EU funded project GEOLAND. Settlement growth will be modelled for small towns in a polycentric semi-rural region without a defined core city and with competing municipal efforts to attract industries and population on either side of the Rhine - in Austria und Switzerland. The model region is the Austrian Rhine valley. In particular, the model simulates population migration and commercial start ups controlled by regional and local factors (attractiveness/constraints). The approach concentrates on a multi agent system to simulate regional migration and allocation decisions of households and companies causing built-up area densification and land-use change patterns. Thus the models virtual "game board" is a cellular landscape (of 50x50m cells) characterised by several grid cell layers, which comprises information from high resolution earth observation data of different historic dates and cell-related additional demographic and employment data from official statistics, further landscape attractiveness and workplace accessibility. The model takes into account different settlement development velocities due to different migration/commercial start-up attractiveness and considers further the effects of introducing or not introducing green belt protection areas to hinder settlement expansion. To examine, whether competing job offers in Switzerland influence migration decisions, 2 different spatial attractiveness surface layer sets are generated – one for the those people who want to work in Switzerland and one for those who remain working in Austria. The suitability and relevance of the attractiveness criteria is examined via regression models, which explain regional migration patterns through various attractiveness factors and workplace accessibility. The very local decision where to settle is carried out by local attractiveness surface layers considering suitability for housing or commercial sites on a block level. The model is validated by control runs for past decades comparing model results with satellite image land-use classification on a regional and on a local level with different statistical parameters on a municipality - and further on cell basis. Scenario-runs till 2020 are carried out using overall population and employment forecasts for the region as growth framework together with land use patterns, zoning restrictions und future work-place accessibility conditions estimated applying an assumed future road network. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p618&r=geo |
| By: | Jose I. Barredo; Carlo Lavalle; Valentina Sagris; Guy Engelen |
| Abstract: | In this paper we analyse urban and regional growth trends by using dynamic spatial models. The objective of this approach is twofold: on the one hand to monitor sustainable development trends and on the other hand to assess flood risk in urban areas. We propose the use of future urban scenarios in order to forecast the effects of urban and regional planning policies. In the last 20 years the extent of built-up areas in Europe has increased by 20%, exceeding clearly the 6% rate of population growth over the same period. This trend contributes to unsustainable development patterns, and moreover, the exposure to natural hazards is increasing in large regions of Europe. The paper is organised in two parts. In the first part we analyse a study case in Friuli-Venezia Giulia (FVG) Region in northern Italy. We analyse several spatial indicators in the form of maps describing population growth and patterns, and the historical growth of built-up areas. Then we show the results of a dynamic spatial model for simulating land use scenarios. The model is based on a spatial dynamics bottom-up approach, and can be defined as a cellular automata (CA)-based model. Future urban scenarios are produced by taking into account several factors –e.g. land use development, population growth or spatial planning policies–. Urban simulations offer a useful approach to understanding the consequences of current spatial planning policies. Inappropriate regional and urban planning can exacerbate the negative effects of extreme hydrological processes. Good land management and planning practices, including appropriate land use and development control in flood-prone areas, represent suitable non-structural solutions to minimise flood damages. The overall effects of these measures in terms of both sustainable development and flood defence can be quantified with the proposed modelling approach. In the second part of the paper we show some preliminary results of a pilot study case. Two future simulations produced by the model were used for a flood risk assessment in Pordenone (one of the four provinces of FVG). In the last 100 years Pordenone has suffered several floods. The two major events were the heavy floods of 1966 (100-year flood event; >500 mm of rain in 36 hours) and 2002 (up to 580 mm of rain in 36 hours). The disastrous consequences of those heavy floods have shown how vulnerable this area is. The flood risk analysis is based on a hydrological hazard map for the Livenza River catchment area, provided by the regional Water Authority. That map covers most of flood hazard areas of Pordenone province. Early results of this study show that the main driving force of natural disasters damage is not only increasing flood hazard, but increasing vulnerability, mainly due to urbanisation in flood prone areas. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p147&r=geo |
| By: | Pedro Moyano; Beatriz Fariña; Guillermo Aleixandre; Olga Ogando |
| Abstract: | The behaviour of enterprises in terms of their spatial distribution is increasingly drawing the attention of regional science, due to the fact that regional economic development is the result of the complex interaction of various factors, key amongst which is entrepreneurial demography. Yet, as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has recognised, few empirical studies have addressed the link between new enterprises and economic change at a local scale, despite entrepreneurs constituting one means of creating employment and increasing local community wealth. Within this context, this paper pinpoints those factors that determine the birth of new enterprises at a local scale, focusing on towns in the Spanish Autonomous Region of Castilla y León. The information used was gathered from the approximately 15 000 companies set up between 2001 and 2003 in the 270 towns with over 1 000 inhabitants in the region, and whose creation as a company was published in the Official Journal of the Trade Register Office. The approach used is based on the link between entrepreneurial capacity and regional economic growth, prior to an analysis of regional differences in the setting up of companies within the Spanish economy. Subsequently, a detailed analysis is made of the factors that influence the creation of new enterprises in towns in Castilla y León, through the use of a regression model which, amongst other conclusions, attributes the emergence of enterprises to a large extent to the presence of agglomeration economies and urban growth. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p516&r=geo |
| By: | Marco Mundelius; Wencke Hertzsch |
| Abstract: | In addition to a distinct regional concentration of the branch in a few, large metropolitan areas in Germany, Berlin shows inner-city (inner-regional) concentrations of the music industry and its players linked with the value chain as well as branch-relevant institutions. By means of a written survey of companies in the media and IT industries in Berlin and Brandenburg plus expert interviews, an analysis of the Berlin music branch, regarding its spatial as well as organizational concentration and how this concentration is perceived by companies, has been carried out. A comparison of the results within the branch and with the Brandenburg region can be made on the basis of a differentiation of the media branch in the analysis. This analysis found that creative milieus are of particular importance as they perform the role of being the driving force in developing the field of music. Therefore this paper examines spillovers into this industry, as a first step of spatial concentration in terms of networks of music companies, institutions, and the specific and innovative milieu and the geographical dimension of knowledge. Furthermore, evidence has been found through the use of economic and socio-cultural indicators. Urbanization economies become especially clear (apparent) for the region in the examination of Berlin’s music industry with their intersectoral integration and cross-sectoral stimilus to settlement and formation of companies. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p534&r=geo |
| By: | Mike Coombes; José M. Casado-Díaz |
| Abstract: | In many European local labour markets, a growing minority of workers are making longer commuting trips. One consequence for research into journey-to-work flows, which usually seeks to identify the boundaries of local labour market areas (LLMAs), is that these boundaries represent a ¡¥snap shot¡¦ of an increasingly volatile pattern. The challenge for regional science is how best to represent the way LLMAs evolve. «Is it sufficient to simply update maps, using a consistent method which is applied to successive ¡¥snap-shot¡¦ datasets? This approach will be illustrated in contrasting regions. «Is it possible to produce new approaches to analysis which can better draw attention to those areas where change has been rather more, or less, strong? The paper will end with some explorations in pursuit of this aim. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p303&r=geo |
| By: | Wouter Vermeulen; Jos Van Ommeren |
| Abstract: | The empirical wage curve literature has demonstrated that workers in high-unemployment regions earn less. At the same time, many labour markets, especially in Europe, are characterised by persistent regional unemployment differentials and a low interregional labour mobility rate. It is argued in this paper that workers in high-unemployment regions are compensated in the housing market, which discourages migration to low-unemployment regions. We derive a multiregional efficiency wage model allowing for endogenous land prices, and therefore house prices, as well as endogenous lot sizes. It is shown that in high-unemployment regions, land prices are lower and lot sizes are larger. Therefore, aggregate regional house price data misrepresent the compensating differential. Employing a Dutch housing demand survey, we show that attribute corrected house prices and rents are 10.4 respectively 2.4 percent lower when regional unemployment is one percent higher. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p204&r=geo |
| By: | Leo JG Van Wissen; Veronique Schutjens |
| Abstract: | Spatial economic change can be decomposed in it's demographic constituents firm formation, closure, relocation and growth. This paper focusses on the role of relocation in the balancing equation of spatial economic dynamics: Total Change(zone i) = New firms(i)-Closures(i)+ Growth(i)-Decline(i)+ Inmoves(i)-Outmoves(i). Whereas the other components are scale invariant (i.e. a firm birth is a birth whether measured at the local or the regional level) for firm relocation the geographical scale is very important. The larger the size of the region, the smaller the number of border crossing relocations. The question about the role of firm migration in regional economic change can therefore only be answered taking into account the geographical scale. In this paper we will answer this question for various geographical scales. The data that we use are from the longitudinal business register of the province of Gelderland, in the east of the Netherlands, covering the period 1988-2002. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p745&r=geo |
| By: | Carlos Azzoni; Paulo Sa-Porto |
| Abstract: | The paper analyses the effects of the Mercosul commercial block on export intensity of different regions in Brazil. A gravitational model is employed to explain the intensity of exports of different Brazilian regions according to destination countries, differentiating those pertaining to Mercosul. Besides GDP, population and distance, typical of the gravitational model, indicators of regional competitiveness came out as important to explain regional export performance. The results indicate that the commercial block does not improve the export performance of regions, which are explained by the economic variables included in the model. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p783&r=geo |
| By: | Grigori Fainstein |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we aim at analysing the development of regional specialisation in Estonia since the beginning of trade liberalisation and integration into the EU in the early 1990s. Second, given the patterns of developments in specialisation, we analyse how trade liberalisation has affected structure of regional wages. The main data used in this study consist of a panel of 5 geographic regions aggregated at the NUTS3 level by the EU classification. For every region we calculated indices of regional industrial specialisation in 1990-2002. The indices are based on data for employment in manufacturing industries classified by two-digit NACE standard (total of 13 industries). The impact of integration with EU on regional development is based on the data for average wages in industry in regions at NUTS IV level (15 administrative units of Estonia). The analysis of industrial specialisation in Estonian NUTS III regions showed that the level of specialisation has increased on average by 1-1.5% a year. As for transition economy time is a fair proxy to integration, we may conclude that initial stages of establishing closer economic relations with EU and voluminous target investments into the regions stimulated specialisation. Econometric analysis of relationship between relative regional wages and distance to the capital suggests an explanation consistent with new economic geography hypothesis. Surprisingly, in spite of small size of Estonian territory, distance have essensial effect on variations in regional wages. Our estimates show that integration with EU and trade liberalisation minimises negative impact of distance. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p240&r=geo |
| By: | José António Cabral Vieira; João Pedro Almeida Couto; Maria Teresa Borges Tiago |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the size o inter-regional wage dispersion in Portugal. For this purpose, we estimate a Mincer-type human capital wage equation, including controls for a large number of districts, and calculate a weighted and adjusted standard deviation (WASD) of inter-regional wage differences. The value is high and quite stable over time. The highest wages are found in the region of Lisbon and the Tagus Valley. We Moreover, is quite sensitive to inclusion of human capital and industry controls. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p160&r=geo |
| By: | Eftychia Antoniou |
| Abstract: | The city is a vital sum of functions, of human actions, of resources and of a built and physical environment. The sustainability of cities is relatively a new area of interest, especially for the Greek cities. Only in the last decade was sustainability introduced to the Greek planning process. Unfortunately, the Greek cities do not follow the Local Agenda 21, an instrument that is trying to promote sustainability issues for the built environment. The city of Volos in Greece seems to be more sensitive in the environmental and sustainable development issues than other Greek cities due to its proximity to vital natural resources and to a unique position between sea and mountain. Further more Volos is one of the few medium sized cities in Greece that have a local agenda 21 and numerous Life and EMAS smaller more focused projects. Even if the city of Volos is not the leader city in the cases of sustainability nevertheless the city has undertaken lots of initiatives, projects and programmes to promote the sustainability issues. Therefore, it is worthwhile to study the way in which the city faces the sustainability and could act as a useful example for the sustainable urban planning in Greece. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p712&r=geo |
| By: | M. Oguz Sinemillioglu; Nese Karacay |
| Abstract: | The aim of this study is to analyze Central Business District (CBD) of Diyarbakýr and its evolution and by which the future possibilities of CBD location(s) will be search for. The city of Diyarbakir with almost 800 thousand inhabitants, needs to be evaluated for urban services and its location of Central Business District. This evaluation is necessary because there has been a rapid urbanization and changing in urban services in last three decades. In addition, The demand of urban services by cities around Diyarbakýr is increasing and inevitably new search for better urban services CBD of Diyarbakýr is questioning. The study will try to explain this process by using questionnaires, Analyzing urban land use plans, Studying on demographic and economic data of the city. Finally, we expect to have some ideas of new location(s) CBD of Diyarbakýr. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p331&r=geo |
| By: | Hugo Priemus |
| Abstract: | Dutch government adopts an active policy to revitalize cities in general and to renew particular problematic housing areas in particular. In the majority of large cities the share of social housing is very large, mostly more than 50%. As a result we observe an increasing concentration of low-income households in the city and selective migration by middle and high income households from the city to the suburb. Official national housing and urban renewal policy is aiming at a redifferentiation of the urban housing stock: more owner-occupation, larger homes with a higher quality and a larger share of houses with a garden. This means: demolishing social housing estates, selling social housing or renovating social housing. The dominant actor in Dutch social housing is the housing association, which has a market share of 36% of the housing stock nationwide. Their position in the regeneration of Dutch urban districts is peculiar. They are supposed to take initiative and to invest in urban renewal and in the same time they are urged to reduce their market share. How are housing associations coping with this contradictory challenge? In this paper we will provide an overview of practices in Dutch cities and we will try to explain what we observe. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p28&r=geo |
| By: | Alexander Kaufmann |
| Abstract: | Metropolitan regions are important locations of innovation networks. They comprise a broad variety of high tech firms, producer services, research organizations, financial organizations, training institutions and other private and public organizations which are contributing to innovation. Such regions, however, are typically larger than the administrative entity of the core city. This applies also to the greater Vienna urban region, the most important concentration of innovation-related institutions in Austria. This paper analyses the potential role of the municipal authorities of Vienna in supporting and shaping the metropolitan innovation system. This is a complex task because many important elements of the innovation networks of local firms are located outside the city or the metropolitan region. And even those organizations which have their physical location in the city are sometimes controlled from abroad (e.g. foreign owned subsidiaries) or by other, in particular national, administrative levels (e.g. federal universities). Based on a survey of innovation networks in the Vienna urban region, basic structural features of these networks - types of partners, their location and the kind of relations between them - are presented. From these results, conclusions concerning the design of urban innovation policy - its potential scope and effectiveness, reasonable priorities and inevitable limits - are drawn. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p126&r=geo |
| By: | Raffaele Paci; Stefano Usai |
| Abstract: | In the recent years a vast body of literature has analysed the role of agglomeration economies on industry location and growth. Such literature has, however, paid not too much attention to the wider scenario where such phenomena are rooted, that of an ongoing process of structural change which is transforming our economies from manufacturing to service ones. The main objective of this paper is to assess the role of a large set of potential determinants of the process of local agglomeration of economic activity distinguishing between manufacturing and service sectors and also to analyse the issue of spatial association of the local growth process. We focus on the case of Italy making use of a very ample database on socio-economic indicators for 784 Local Labour Systems and 34 sectors over the period 1991-2001. Our database covers both the manufacturing and the service sectors so that the whole economic system is considered. Our econometric results show that local growth in Italy is not a homogeneous process. On the contrary, it is characterized by significant differences across macro regions and especially across sectors. Among the most important determinants of local industry growth, it is worth mentioning the positive role of the diversity externalities. We also find robust evidence of the negative influence of specialisation externalities on labour dynamics at the local industry level. Moreover, we have assessed the effects of other determinants of local growth like human capital, social environment and network externalities. Finally, the presence of spatial autocorrelation is detected for the aggregate economy and also in several sectors and therefore dynamic spatial models have been estimated. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p46&r=geo |
| By: | Tamás Dusek |
| Abstract: | There is a very well known fundamental problem in spatial data analysis namely that all results of quantitative methods are potencially influenced by the way of spatial delimitation. This problem is mostly called modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP). However, beside the rich tradition in the empirical spatial data analysis, the effect of MAUP on putting forward and testing a theory and the effect on model-building is an issue rarely investigated. The MAUP creates the need for the investigation of the connection between theories and data and the micro-macro dualism. My paper presents the epistemological background of the problem and gives illustrations of the negative consequences of ignoring them in regional macroeconomics. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p357&r=geo |
| By: | Nagy Gábor |
| Abstract: | The change of political and economic regime after the State Socialist period (1948-1989) and forming a neo-liberal market economy changed the spatial structure of the country very rapidly. The winner of the new era became the capital city and its' surrounding (agglomeration zone), the Budapest-Vienna axis, and the Western border region. There were some other local success stories in the countyside, but they were unable form innovative, rapidly growing zones, just became islands (cathedrals in the desert, as Castells said in 1989). This limited number of success stories formed out two basically different types of restruction and modernisation. One was connected mainly to the capital city itself, characterised by the post-industrial way of development, strenghten with the dominant role of institutions and government. The other possible path of local and/or territorial success based on re-industrialisation with close connections to FDI in electronics and automobile industries. The worldwide stagnation period in 2000-2001 weaken their position, but in paralel with the beginning of the new growing period, this areas and cities were able to fasten the development again. The service activities had no specific role in the success of the countryside, however some university-towns, R@D centres had (and have) emerging potential to form a new way of success. The used model (potential-model) has close connection to the phisical analogy, but seems a very usfull tool to see and understand the spatial form of success regions, and change of economic key-indicators. We can characterize the different type of regions (NUTS 2 level), counties (NUTS 3 level) and small-regions (NUTS 4 level) and outpoint the inner structure of their economic potential. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p211&r=geo |
| By: | Ana Angulo; Jesus Mur |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we study geographical labour mobility taken by workers in Spain from a regional standpoint. Using a panel data set referred to the evolution of these decisions in the 1990-2003 period, the main objective is to determine what are the main variables that influence in labour mobility as well as to quantify their impact. To this respect, regional labour market status, spatial variations in employment opportunities and house prices have turned to be the main determinants. Furthermore, also certain socio-demographic characteristic of workers such as education, marital status and the presence of children in the household are also of great relevant. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p247&r=geo |
| By: | Graham Crampton |
| Abstract: | The large literature on the rank-size rule of city sizes has received rather inconsistent treatment in the European continent. Part of the problem has been the fact that (unlike the U.S.) there are inconsistent Census dates and no uniform definition of what is meant by an urban area. This paper uses data from a French research project which provides physical urban area data for a number of (not all) European countries, down to quite small minimum urban sizes. This allows international comparison of the usual Pareto estimation parameters, and also some examination of whether square or cubic terms are significant. The nature and economic basis of such non-linearities in the logarithmic rank-size relationship are of interest. The spatial nature of the urban size hierarchy has also been rather neglected recently, and much research in this area has virtually ignored the location of the cities, focusing solely on size. Appropriate treatment of nearby urban centres is a tricky empirical problem, as is the proper treatment of urban areas spreading across two or more countries. One of the main background economic motives for studying urban size hierarchies in Europe is to speculate on whether the development of the Eurozone may lead to movement towards a U.S.- type size distribution, which follows the rank-size rule rather well. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p185&r=geo |
| By: | Tanja Tötzer; Ute Gigler |
| Abstract: | For many European cities structural economic changes have a tremendous impact on the city’s image, labour force and the spatial and (socio-) economic framework. City administrations are struggling with industries becoming obsolete or moving elsewhere and leaving derelict and often contaminated sites in the core of the city. The cities have to cope with the consequences, such as social decay, joblessness and environmental contamination. Revitalising derelict inner city sites is essential for a sustainable urban development, because it improves the image of the site and its neighbourhoods, it helps reduce sprawl on the urban fringe and it enhances environmental quality. Although cities could derive multiple benefits from reusing those sites, a revitalisation is afflicted with many risks and uncertainties and therefore represents a major challenge for a city. This paper presents experiences gained and lessons learned in six different revitalisation case studies in Gothenburg (S), Liverpool (GB), Lisbon (P), Berlin (D), Steyr (A) and Barcelona (ES). The research was conducted within the EU project MASURIN (Management of Sustainable Revitalisation of Urban Industrial Sites, EVK4-CT-2001-00054). The cases researched demonstrate that certain key factors and approaches need to be in place that allow cities to redevelop old industrial sites in a sustainable manner. In complex systems such as cities local circumstances, stakeholders’ views and the types of organisations involved play a major role. The cases illustrate that open communication, trust and cooperation between public and private stakeholders accelerate the revitalisation process and lead to a balanced and mutually accepted outcome. Following a holistic concept and a vision, but staying flexible throughout the process helps create resilient structures, which strengthen the urban fabric and essentially contribute to a sustainable development of the whole city. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p603&r=geo |
| By: | Valerija Botriæ; Željka Kordej de Villa |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates regional differences in the housing market in Croatia. Housing market in Croatia is still relatively undeveloped, but highly regionally dispersed. Regions characterized by excessive demand on the housing and real estate markets are concentrated in the capital city and recently in the tourist areas. Regions characterized by the excessive supply are those in the economically depressed areas. At the same time, Croatian labour market lacks significant geographical mobility, which contributes to the differences on the housing market as well. Croatian housing market had to experience the phase of price liberalization, as well as other markets in the transition process. This specific liberalization, though, was not considered as a priority during the process. Price developments and turnover dynamics are still bounded by underdeveloped and not updated cadastre, purchasing power of the Croatian residents, newly discovered and soon surpassed credit liabilities, and at this moment still limited possibilities of non-residents real estate purchases. Within the prospect of becoming an EU member, Croatian housing market is expected to gone through significant changes. The main purpose of our paper is to quantitatively assess the situation prior to the EU accession. We apply principles of hedonic price methods in order to estimate the determinants of housing prices, taking account of regional differences. Our database consists of the detailed spatial data. Since the database is relatively new, the time dimension of housing market developments is not assessed in this paper. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p289&r=geo |
| By: | Eleonora Cutrini |
| Abstract: | This paper focuses on the decomposition of location measures according to a twofold geographical level of analysis. The methodology, based on the use of the Theil dissimilarity index, is potentially applicable to the assessment of the spatial distribution of several economic phenomena when different hierarchical levels of analysis are considered. In the specific case, the entropy index considered is first defined as the weighed average of the log of regional Balassa indices. Thanks to the decomposability typical of the generalised entropy indices, the index constructed allows to disentangle the relative importance of country comparative advantages from regional competitiveness. The decomposition of relative concentration indices provides a rigorous method to quantify the cross-country divergence in localisation from the inner-country agglomeration patterns. Similarly, the construction of specialisation measures is intended to capture the different constituents at the national and sub-national levels. The paper ends with the decomposition of typical entropy obtained condensing relative concentration and relative specialisation into a single index. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p123&r=geo |
| By: | Peter Huber |
| Abstract: | This paper analyses the effects of three previous enlargements of the European Union on newly joining and old member states. We find that overall the effects of enlargements on regional employment, wage and population growth, as well as investment rates were small. We also find substantial heterogeneity between different accession episodes, stronger effects on wages than on employment and differences in long-term and medium term effects. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p68&r=geo |
| By: | David Evers |
| Abstract: | Although the European Union has had no formal power to conduct spatial planning as such, many of its policies have had a clear impact on urban and regional development in the member states. Examples include the encouragement of certain kinds of development in particular regions via the structural funds or the designation of Trans- European Networks and the discouragement of development as a result of Natura2000 zones, air and water quality standards. At the same time, EU agricultural policy has left a clear mark on European rural areas. In addition, competition policy (particularly state aid caps and rules on public procurement) can have an impact on planning processes, while the enlargement of the common market will affect regional economic development. This paper will draw on experiences in the Netherlands regarding the cumulative effects of EU sectoral policies and make some suggestions on how the concept of territorial cohesion, included in the Constitution, may provide a vehicle for reconciling potential policy conflicts. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p32&r=geo |
| By: | Joseph Byrne; Giorgio Fazio; Davide Piacentino |
| Abstract: | This paper performs a number of tests to estimate convergence in total factor productivity (TFP) among Italian regions during the period 1970-2001. We generate the regional TFP series using growth accounting methodologies, and then apply a range of panel unit root tests to analyse the process of convergence. We extend the existing literature by incorporating three main improvements. Firstly, we control for the heterogeneity arising from the different economic structure of each region. Secondly, we account for the cross-sectional dependence due to common shocks or spillovers among different regions at the same time. Finally, we look for clubs of convergence using tests of poolability both on economic and statistical grounds. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p591&r=geo |
| By: | Matías Mayor Fernández; Ana Jesús López Menéndez |
| Abstract: | The main feature of shift-share analysis is, according to Dunn (1960), the computation of geographical shifts in economic activity. Nevertheless, the traditional shift-share approach does not include explicitly the interaction between the considered spatial units (countries, municipalities, regions, etc) since each of these units is considered to be independent with respect to the others. The consideration of the spatial dependence was suggested by some authors who recognized that the decomposed effects are not spatially independent. Nazara y Hewings (2002, 2004) take up this idea again and implement a new shift-share model based on the existence of spatial dependence between the geographic units by means of the definition of a spatial weight matrix. In this paper a comparative analysis of the different models is carried out. The obtained conclusions are also illustrated with some empirical applications related to municipalities. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p659&r=geo |
| By: | Marie-Hélène Massot; Emre Korsu |
| Abstract: | Many experts believe that the uninterrupted lengthening of trip distances, and especially trip-to-work distances, is carried mostly by urban sprawl combined to growing functional (economic functions/residential functions) and social (high-class residential areas/low-class residential areas) specialization of urban space. According to them, these three dynamics (urban sprawl - functional specialization - social specialization) drag along quantitative and qualitative spatial imbalances between economic and residential functions and these spatial imbalances contribute to widen the distance separating workers' homes and job places, and hence, to lenghten the trips-to-work. On the basis of this diagnosis, the re-establishement of a greater balance, on both quantitative and qualitative grounds, between jobs and housing in different areas of the city is currently emerging as a major issue regarding the car-traffic reducing goal. Making the assumption that the multiplication of long-distance trips occurs as a consequence of greater difficulties encountered by households searching decent housing nearby workplaces, many experts argue that efficient urban policies promoting a diversified housing supply nearby job centres would allow more reasonable commuting distances and that such a return should go forth with a reduction in car traffic. In this paper, through a simulation model based on re-assignment of households closer to their workplaces, we examine the potential of car traffic reduction in the case of the Paris region. More precisely the impact of jobs-housing balance policy is based on a simulation model which states assignment of households located far from their work place within zones located nearer to the work place. The households that are reassigned are those where all workers travel more than a given time-threshold to reach their work place. These households are relocated within a perimeter around either the work place of the head of the household if it is a one worker household or the work place of the female worker if it is a two worker household - this perimeter is defined with reference to a time-threshold (set to 20, 30 or 45 minutes by private car or by public transport). For each type of household (defined according to social status, number of workers and family profile), the type of housing demanded by reassigned households is derived from the structure of housing detained by households that are already located within the perimeter of re-assignment. Three analyses are conducted on the basis of this simulation. According to the different time-thresholds : first, we estimate the total distances saved on home-work trips by private car when households are reassigned. Second, we identify the characteristics of reassigned households (especially social status, number of workers, family profile, residential location, job location, etc.). Third, we estimate the housing offer/demand imbalance after re-assignment (with specific interest for the case of housing for low-income groups). |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p647&r=geo |
| By: | Andreas P. Cornett |
| Abstract: | The economic development of regions is today closely determined by the linkages and networks to external partners as well as their own Hinterlands. Main focus in this paper is on issues related to changes in the system of production, in regional as well as international, and a cross border perspective. Empirically the analysis is based on results from a project analyzing regional development in the Baltic Sea Regions. Issues addressed are spatial impacts of alterations in the economic linkages in the BSR since the transition process started in the aftermath of the break down of the iron curtain. Theoretically the concepts applied are based on economic integration and location. An analytical framework is sketched in the first part of the paper. The second section provides a brief introduction to the economic development in the regions considered, including an assessment of cross border flows, i.e. trade and FDI. Part three is devoted to an analysis of changes in the regional production system with regard to manufacture, and the implication for regional economic performance and employment in the out-sourcing regions as well as in in-sourcing regions. In addition, the issue of ‘re-outsourcing’ is addressed. The latter deals with western companies considering moving production facilities out of the BSR region into areas with lower production costs. The final section summarizes the result with regard to relocation i.e. in border-areas, within the BSR or in a global perspective. Impacts on employment is evaluated as well the paper addresses witch branches in particular are at risk to loose economic weight in the BSR as a consequence of changes in the international division of labor. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p117&r=geo |
| By: | Marjo Kasanko; Jose I. Barredo; Carlo Lavalle; Valentina Sagris |
| Abstract: | In this article we analyse the relationship between urban land use development and population density in fifteen European urban areas. In the last 20 years the extent of built-up areas in Europe has increased by 20%, exceeding clearly the 6% rate of population growth over the same period. This is one of the consequences of unsustainable development patterns in large areas of Europe. In order to illustrate such unsustainable process we show five sets of indicators on built-up areas, residential land use, land taken by urban expansion, population density and how the population takes up the built-up space.The results show that analysing urban land use development necessitates the use of complementary indicators. The built-up areas have grown considerably in a sample of 15 European cities. The most rapid growth dates back to 1950s and 1960s. The annual growth pace has slowed down in the 1990s to 0.75 %. In half of the studied cities over 90% of all new housing areas built after the mid-1950s are discontinuous urban developments. This trend is increasing the use of private car and fragmentation of natural areas among others negative effects. When putting these findings into the context of stable or decreasing urban population, it is clear that the structure of most of European cities has become less compact, which demonstrates a de-centralisation process of urban land uses. We close by discussing on one hand the common urban land use and population density trends and on the other hand differences between the studied cities. Although most studied urban areas have experienced dispersed growth, as a result of the analysis we divide the cities in three groups: - compact cities,- cities with looser structures and lower densities,- and cities in the midway between the extremes. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p149&r=geo |
| By: | Falko Juessen |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we present an empirical study of per capita income convergence across German labour market regions during 1992 to 2002 using nonparametric techniques. We find clear evidence for convergence during the period we study, i.e. that regions that were poor in 1992 have increased their relative incomes in 2002. A special feature of our approach is that it allows to make predictions about the long-run distribution of regional incomes. We predict a persistent inequality among German regions. This result is especially important with respect to the massive regional policy expenditures taken in the last decade. According to our analysis it is unlikely that German policy will prevent polarization in the regional income distribution even if transers and subsidies will be continued in a comparable magnitude. Consequently, we argue that regional policy programs in Germany do not achieve their aim, and therefore need to be reviewed. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p411&r=geo |
| By: | Floro Ernesto Caroleo; Gianluigi Coppola |
| Abstract: | In this paper We explain the regional unemployment disparities in Europe using a set of institutional indicators trough an Econometric Panel data analysis. In particularly the aim of t he paper is to evaluate if the regional disparities in the unemployment rates are due to different economy structure and/or to institutional rigidity of national/regional labour markets. A Regional data set has been constructed in order to estimate the relationship between the unemployment rate, institutional factors, and some other variables that measure the regional productive structure(Amendola, Caroleo, Coppola, 2003). |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p758&r=geo |
| By: | Guido De Blasio |
| Abstract: | To explain the concentration of human capital in cities, urban theory conjectures that the metropolitan scale provides two sources of returns for the more educated: production benefits, both in terms of wages and non-monetary gains, and consumption benefits. By exploiting a unique survey on Italian workers that records information for the two sources of returns, this paper quantifies their respective roles. The findings show that skilled workers enjoy higher consumption amenities in larger cities. They benefit from the local public goods, such as transportation, health and schooling services, the shopping possibilities, and the cultural consumption potentials made possible by the urban location of cinemas, theaters, and museums. On the other hand, the more educated do not receive benefits on the production side. Their wages do not reflect a premium, and the returns to education and experience are not higher than elsewhere. Moreover, urban skilled workers do not change jobs more readily than elsewhere and do not appear to be more satisfied of their jobs. The estimates imply that in the largest metropolitan areas the value of the consumption amenities can be as high as 50% of the rents or 16-17% of the wages. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p648&r=geo |
| By: | Julie Le Gallo; Sandy Dall’erba |
| Abstract: | This paper analyzes the evolution of labor productivity disparities among 145 European regions over 1975-2000 according to the concepts of sigma- and beta-convergence and emphasizes the importance of including both spatial effects and a disaggregated analysis at a sectoral level. We detect sigma-convergence in aggregate labor productivity and in the service sectors but not in the other sectors. This result can be explained by a transfer of resources from the agricultural sector to the more productive sectors that has been more marked in the poor regions. Empirical results also indicate that the common indicator of sigma-convergence lead to a bias when spatial effects are not included in the analysis. We then estimate beta-convergence models including the relevant spatial effects for each sector. The results show that inequality in productivity levels between core and peripheral regions persist and highlight how convergence speeds and the nature of spatial effects vary from one sector to another. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p191&r=geo |
| By: | Yuri Yegorov; Oscar Mascarilla-i-Miro |
| Abstract: | The goal of this paper is theoretical analysis of the complex process of agglomeration of firms in space when cities are also competing for them. Positive spillovers tend firms to locate in the same area, while congestion effects limit this process. Thus, for any given city there exists an optimal number of firms. If there are fewer firms, we face competition under increasing returns to scale, with path dependence effects, described by W.B.Arthur (1994). Hence, if firms are relatively scarce, not all cities would be occupied by firms at optimal level. The problem of a firm is to choose an optimal city expecting rational behaviour of other firms. Such factor as office rent depend on city size, while wage cost and spillover effects depend also on the number of firms there. Firms choose to agglomerate in those cities where after optimal entry their profits will be maximized. Under certain conditions for parameter set, there exists an equilibrium allocation, where all firms are located in the cities with better parameters. Since cities are different, their attractiveness also differ. At present, London is the leader in attractiveness among European cities, while Barcelona, stays at the 7th position (Healey and Baker, 2001). But this situation is unstable and depends on city development. On empirical side, we analyse the potential effect of investment in infrastructure in Barcelona to improve its attractiveness. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p501&r=geo |
| By: | Francesco Capone; Rafael Boix |
| Abstract: | At the end of the XIX Century, Marshall described the existence of some concentrations of small and medium enterprises specialised in a specific production activity in certain districts of some industrial English cities. Starting from his contribute, Italian scholars have paid particular attention to this local system of production coined by Marshall under the term “industrial district”. In other countries, different but related territorial models have played a central role as the “milieu” or the “geographical industrial clusters”. Recently, these models have been extended to non-industrial fields like culture, rural activities and tourism. In this text, we explore the extension of these territorial models to the study of tourist activities in Italy, using a framework that can be easily applied to other countries or regions. The paper is divided in five sections. In the first one, we propose a review of the territorial models applied to tourism industry. In the second part, we construct a tourist filiere and we apply a methodology for the identification of local systems through GIS tools. Thus, taxonomy of the Italian Tourist Local Systems is presented. In the third part, we discuss about the sources of competitiveness of these Tourist Local Systems. In the forth section, we test a spatial econometrics model regarding different kinds of Italian Tourist Local Systems (rural systems, arts cities, tourist districts) in order to measure external economies and territorial networks. Finally, conclusions and policy implications are exposed. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p695&r=geo |
| By: | Dani Shefer; Haim Aviram |
| Abstract: | Economic evaluation of transport projects relies primarily on the impact of the project on road users. Economic benefits are calculated from the reduction in the aggregate value of time saved by the transport users as well as saving on vehicle operation costs. Most often the analysis assumes fix demand. Major mass transit, like the new Light Rail Transit (LRT), currently being proposed for the Tel-Aviv Metropolitan Area in Israel, is anticipated to generate substantial new traffic. This new traffic generation will most likely enhance the agglomeration forces at work in major urban concentration. Agglomeration economies could shift upward the production function of the metropolitan area, thus generating substantial additional benefits accrued to the transport project. In this paper we present the methodology used in the estimation of the benefits derived from agglomeration economies induced by the proposed new Light Rail Transit in the Tel-Aviv Metropolitan Area. We estimate the increase in the number of employees in the CBD due to the proposed LRT and their potential contribution to the total annual production of the CBD. Agglomeration economies could add a significant amount of additional benefit to the transport project. The extend of these benefits, in our case study, increased the benefit-cost ratio from 1.15 to 1.40. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p133&r=geo |
| By: | Oscar Bajo-Rubio; Carmen Diaz-Roldan |
| Abstract: | The massive increase in foreign direct investment inflows following the Spanish integration with the now European Union in 1986, has been one of the most important features shaping the behaviour of the Spanish economy in the last twenty years. In this paper we will try to provide an assessment of its impact on regional economic growth, using data for the 17 Spanish regions, from 1986 on. To that end, we will estimate an aggregate production function where the foreign-owned capital stock is included as an additional factor. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p498&r=geo |
| By: | Roberto Basile; Sergio Destefanis; Mauro Costantini |
| Abstract: | There is a plethora of studies of regional production functions using stationary panel data. Only some recent works consider non-stationary panel data. All of them assume the hypothesis of cross-section independence. Here, we claim that the independence assumption is too strong when regional data are used. In this paper, the cross-section independence assumption is released and cross-sectional dependence is assumed. First, unit roots and cointegration properties of the panel dataset are properly investigated by using newly developed tests for cross-sectionally dependent panels. Second, dynamic OLS (DOLS) and recent regression models for cross-sectionally correlated panels are used to estimate the cointegrated relationship between value added, physical and human capital, for Italian regions over the period 1970-1998. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p171&r=geo |
| By: | Guido Pellegrini; Marusca De Castris |
| Abstract: | In Europe several countries adopt different incentives to increase regional development. Some subsidies are targeted to small and medium enterprises, others to large enterprises. Even if the subsidies are targeted to specific industrial aspects, there is a substantial degree of territorial overlapping among them. Usually, every grant scheme operates in isolation, and the evaluation of the different measures does not take into account the presence of complementarity or substitution among them. On the other side, the presence of the SME and large firms in the same area can increase positive externalities and therefore it could be a reason to integrate different grant schemes. The aim of the study is to explore the impact of SME and large project grant scheme in two cases: in areas where financial assistance has been taken up by SME and large firms, and in area where only SME are subsidized. The analysis is based on the two more important measures for local development in Italy: incentives by law 488/92, mainly devoted to SME, and contratti di programma, created for large project. Using data for 784 local labour systems, we estimated the employment effect of subsidies. We control for the presence of spontaneous local growth patterns and for spatial spillovers, using the appropriate spatial models. The preliminary results show that incentives for SME have higher impacts in area where a project financed by contratti di programma is located. This suggests the presence of a relevant level of empirical complementarity between the two incentive measures. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p755&r=geo |
| By: | Cem Ertur; Thiaw Kalidou |
| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to analyze the theoretical and econometric implications of omitting spatial dependence in the Mankiw, Romer, and Weil model. Indeed, the international distribution of income levels and growth rates suggests the existence of large international disparities, and therefore the important role of location on economic performance. However, taking spatial dependence into account requires resorting to the methods of Spatial Econometrics, not only for a valid statistical inference, but also for revaluating the impact of the variables generally considered as crucial in the growth phenomenon and finding the processes underlying growth rates and income levels. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p660&r=geo |
| By: | Thomas S. Nielsen; Henrik Harder Hovgesen |
| Abstract: | The paper is an offspring from the Research project Town, Road and Landscape that aims to assess the effect of the Danish motorway network (specifically the last 20 years) on urban growth and interaction patterns. As one of the main interests of the project is the changing urban form and the changing character of the roadscape, the impact of the motorway is in part analysed with micro level data, spatial statistics and GIS – to allowing mapping of changing development trends in motorway corridors. The paper presents analysis of the impact of motorway openings on urban form in two Danish motorway corridors. The analysis is based on a before and after perspective – where the building activity and its location (building register with address coordinates) after the opening of the motorway is compared to building activity in the years before the construction of the motorway. Preliminary results suggest that the motorway most markedly influences the location of non-residential building activities within the city – in favour of locations near the entrance points to/from the motorway network. The development can be explained in part by municipal planning, which in some instances has opened up the new locations for development far ahead of market demand – and in part by an increasing demand for exposed and accessible sites for business development which still seems to be in its beginning. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p377&r=geo |
| By: | Baudelio Urueña |
| Abstract: | In the process of decentralisation of regional policy, the European Union is delegating greater responsibility to Regional Governments in the promotion of regional economic growth and development. Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) would play a significant role as public agencies coordinating economic growth, promotion and development strategies in their respective territorial areas. In recent years, regional policy evaluation has been a theme under much debate internationally much of which has been spurred on through the significant EU Structural Funds transfers from the 1990s. Despite this, there are still few well-established methodologies to aid the evaluation process, the measure of efficiency and this remains a serious issue with which researchers in this field continue to grapple. In this way, an important question, in any evaluation, regarding the effectiveness of RDAs, is about what would have happened in the absence of financial assistance. This paper develops a methodology to evaluate the impact of RDAs in comparison with the total increase in regional economic growth and changes. So, we are interested in measure how much of the global changes in regional development, during a period, is due to the direct contribution of RDAs activity. In this way, it must be considered four main issues, specific of agencies performance, as the creation of SMEs, internationalization firms, R+D+i expenses and, finally competitiveness effects. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p509&r=geo |
| By: | Christos Liouris; Alex Deffner |
| Abstract: | In our days it is a fact that what is projected as the ‘image’ of a city, can be more important than the reality of the city itself, in shaping visitors’, investors’, and even its own inhabitants’ opinion of it. Marketing techniques are often used to help a city’s transformation into a post-industrial centre of tourism, culture and redevelopment. In addition, urban tourism is playing an increasingly important role in deciding economic development strategies by the local governance authorities. In the current framework of the globalised economy, competition for attracting tourists is even greater. On this matter, the role of city marketing is crucial. This paper examines the importance of city marketing in urban governance decisions. It also investigates the relation of city marketing to urban tourism planning, given the relatively new trend for urban tourism quality management, and to sustainability. Finally, the paper looks at the relation of city marketing procedures to city time planning, participatory planning and urban regeneration, concluding with an acknowledgment of the significance of city marketing in urban planning in general. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p395&r=geo |
| By: | Michele Capriati |
| Abstract: | The expenditure capacity in R&D is regarded as an important factor for the growth of modern economies. However, even more important is to understand the interaction between research resources and the single territories together with their concrete impact on innovation processes. In fact it is at the local level that the innovation dynamics based on implicit knowledge are generated and disseminated. In order to analyse these processes the present level of aggregation of R&D expenditure data is limited to administrative regions and is still high, this reducing the ability to carry out more precise investigations. The present paper makes an estimate of R&D expenditure for different institutional categories in Italian municipalities (University, Public Administration, and Business). The estimated database has been completed with economic variables referring to the individual municipalities. This has enabled us to carry out a correlation and a cluster analysis and identify groups of municipalities with different characteristics concerning innovation and local development. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p222&r=geo |
| By: | Antonis Rovolis; Alexandra Tragaki |
| Abstract: | Since the nineties, Greece, like other Southern European countries, has changed from being a country of migratory origin to a destination country for migrants. This, in itself, has been the result of fundamental political and economic reforms across Eastern Europe, as well as of demographic and economic developments within Greece. The first officially available data on migrants in Greece – country of origin, employment, education level or marital status- had been extracted from the 2001 population census. There are interesting points to be made regarding their spatial distribution. Migrants of Albanian origin, the most heavily represented migrant ethnic group, have a more or less even distribution across Greek regions. However, migrants of other ethnic origin seem to cluster in different regions. The first part of this paper offers a panorama of how migrants are dispersed across Greece in respect with their country of origin. This is followed by an attempt to identify the causal economic, social, and demographic factors of the spatial distribution of migration using various econometric tools, including spatial regression. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p774&r=geo |
| By: | Bernd Brandl; Christian Foelzer |
| Abstract: | This paper focuses on employment effects since Austria joined the European Union. The location of economic activity and thus employment has been of interest for the economics profession for a long time. In this respect the question on the employment effects of integration in common markets is of special interest as the hypothesis can be raised that because of increased competition regions will specialize and industries will concentrate. Therefore it is asked how regions have specialized and how industries have concentrated by using various concentration/specialization measures. Moreover, the role of foreign direct investments are observed in explaining concentration/specialization as well as regional employment shifts. It is shown (i) that no general trends in specialization/concentration can be detected, so that on a general level the hypothesis of joining a common market necessarily leads to specialization/concentration must be refused, but for specific industries and regions interesting patterns can be observed and (ii) foreign direct investments have an significant impact on employment in regions. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p717&r=geo |
| By: | Jianquan Cheng; Frank Le Clercq; Luca Bertolini |
| Abstract: | The question to be investigated in the paper is how to characterize urban networks, taking both place-bound activities and (quality of) transport networks into account. The description should help formulate planning questions about the development of urban networks. Urban networks can morphologically be characterized as concentrations of land uses in a geographical area. Beyond this morphological description, places in the area can also be characterized by the amount and diversity of activities to be accessed by means of a physical transport network. So, each place can be valued in terms of opportunities within reach, depending on its links to the transport network, the attractiveness of activities within given travel time or costs, and spatial interaction with other places. The changes of activities at one place (e.g. amount of workers or jobs) can thus, in combination with changes in the transport network (e.g. travel speeds), influence the position of places elsewhere because of competition between places. The process of influence will be spatially diffused further. It indicates that spatial competition is a hidden determinant of an urban network. The paper will illustrate these different components of the urban network for the northern part of the Randstad Holland conurbation (the greater Amsterdam area) by means of different accessibility measures. The comparisons between the patterns of two urban networks (morphological and opportunity based, or ‘virtual’) can help explore the changing urban network, giving rise to planning questions such as: -what should be the planning aim for urban networks: making places more homogenous, more diverse or rather make them subject to (controlled) competitive developments? -improvements in the transport system may have more or less exogenous impacts on the competitive position of urban places. How should these impacts be acknowledged in transport planning? -are comprehensive planned (and controlled) interventions thinkable in urban networks, or are urban networks rather the outcome of adaptively evolving, and necessarily partial planning interventions, as those responding to traffic congestion, the need for urban expansion, changes in location preferences, etc.? Answers to these questions will be tentatively addressed to formulate a planning research agenda for urban networks. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p797&r=geo |
| By: | Morten Marott Larsen; Bjarne Madsen; Chris Jensen-Butler |
| Abstract: | In this working paper the regional impacts of road pricing on cars are analysed taking into account externality effects from transportation on wages and productivity. In the paper the direct impacts from changes in transport costs on level of wages and productivity (=direct externality effects) have been estimated. The direct and derived impacts of road pricing have been analysed with AKF’s local economic model LINE and include the impacts on regional production, income and employment. LINE is an interregional general equilibrium model, which uses an interregional social accounting matrix (SAM-K) and a regional transport satellite account as the basis for modelling. Additionally, data from a GIS-system (Technical University of Copenhagen) on transport costs have been included to estimate the demand for transport commodities and increase in transport demand and costs due to road pricing. The direct effects on level of wages and productivity have been included into the model together with all the direct effects on commodity prices from road pricing. In the working paper the total impacts of road pricing have been subdivided into 2 components: 1) The wage effects of reducing income net of commuting of increasing transport cost by introduction of road pricing, 2) the labour contraction effect from increasing wages through increase in commuting cost and 3) the negative productivity effects of introducing road pricing. In total the impacts of road pricing are substantial. Regions with high level of average commuting cost (suburban areas in Greater Copenhagen) suffers most, whereas the centre of Copenhagen suffers least because of short commuting distances. In rural areas impacts are on or just below average because low level of road pricing. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p198&r=geo |
| By: | Jan Ritsema van Eck; Femke Daalhuizen; Lia Van den Broek; Frank Van Oort; Otto Raspe |
| Abstract: | Randstad Holland, the most urbanised area in the western part of the Netherlands, is one of the seven World Cities that were described in Peter Halls famous study of that name. World cities are those cities which have the highest level (in terms of both quantity and quality) of internationally oriented activities. In this ranking of world cities, the Randstad is often mentioned as an example of a polycentric metropolis. But does the Randstad function as one world city, rather than a conglomerate of medium-sized urban regions in close proximity to each other? The network city is supposed to be more than the sum of the constituent urban regions. This implies not only specialisation between these urban regions, but also complementarity and, as a result of this, a high quality (metropolitan) environment for residents, visitors and business. Clearly, the four main urban regions of the Randstad show some degree of functional specialisation. In this paper, the main focus will be on the complementarity. We propose to measure complementarity by analysing flows of people, goods and/or information, specifically focussing on the asymmetric flows, against the background of functional specialisation. Some results are presented for the Randstad Holland as well as some other polycentric urban networks, which are discussed in the context of the debate about the Randstad as a Network City. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p543&r=geo |
| By: | Michiel De Bok; Michiel Bliemer |
| Abstract: | Existing integrated land use transport interaction models simulate the level of employment in (aggregated) zones and lack the individual firm as a decision making unit. This research tries to improve the behavioural foundation of these models by applying a firm demographic modelling approach that first of all accounts for the individual firm as a decision making unit and secondly represents the urban system with high spatial detail. A firm demographic approach models transitions in the state of individual firms by simulating transitions and events such as the relocation decision, growth or shrinkage of firms or the death of a firm. Important advantage of such a decomposed approach is that it offers the opportunity to account for accessibility in each event in the desired way. The firm demographic model is linked to an urban transport model in order to obtain a dynamic simulation of mobility (and accessibility) developments. The paper describes the firm demographic model specifications as well as the interaction of the model with the urban transport model. The integrated simulation model can be used to analyse the effects of different spatial and transport planning scenarios on the location of economic activities and mobility. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p664&r=geo |
| By: | Ajibola Isau Badiru; Ana Cristina Machado Rodríguez; Maria Aparecida Faustino de Pires |
| Abstract: | The necessity of handling green areas relating to urban settings has become one of the vital environmental challenges in view of several accumulated environmental problems in the last few decades. In United States and Canada, many investments are being made for new techniques and instruments that are needed in environmental planning involving urban forest researches both in the local and national scale. However, there are few reports on urban forest classification connecting spatial characteristics, physical structures involving pattern and process. With the objective to classify urban green areas for integrated approach, this research have focused on urban pattern for an effective understanding of urban forest concept, green areas and urban vegetation types. The urban morphology in consistency with the urban forest Focus Chat (FC) recently designed has been applied to characterize spatial categories of urban vegetation involved in the urban arrangement of Registro-SP. Method has integrated zones, patterns and processes for technical analyses to contemplate the urban dynamics, occupation and land use. Categories of urban forest and vegetation types were derived for the urban planning and system management. The resulting pattern can be technically monitored in the use of suitable GIS (Geographical Information System) software for physical and environmental records. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p585&r=geo |
| By: | Elena Lopez |
| Abstract: | Accessibility gains arising from transport infrastructure improvements are one of the key elements boosting a complex process involving transport, land use and regional development effects. The inclusion of the wider socio-economic effects stemming from large-scale transport infrastructure investments is uneven among national evaluation procedures, and there is no commonly accepted methodology to measure them. In addition, there are other effects which do not take into account the overall change in the value of a specific variable, -normally GDP or employment-, but only the changes in its spatial distribution. These distributive effects, related to spatial equity issues, are increasingly included as a policy objective in most infrastructure Master Plans. More over, at a European level, economic and social cohesion is considered among the priority objectives in the enlarged EU. However, the inclusion of cohesion effects in national assessment methodologies is quite limited. If cohesion issues are not taken into account, new infrastructure schemes may induce spatial polarising effects, as more profitable projects are usually the ones which interconnect central regions, at the expense of the relative position of peripheral regions. Moreover, each transport mode has its special features which make it more inclined towards cohesion or polarising effects. In this sense, recent studies at a European level on the impacts of RTE-T show that HSR lines seem to have rather polarising effects, while new road schemes seem to have slight cohesion effects. In this context, activity-based accessibility indicators can be used as a proxy to measure these distributive effects. Changes in the relative positions of the regions in terms of accessibility provide an estimate to test if the Master Plan increases or reduces disparities among regions- i.e. reduces or increases cohesion, respectively. The paper analyses these issues measuring the changes in accessibility stemming from the implementation of different high-capacity road and HSR schemes in Spain. Results show a slight cohesion effect after the implementation of the high-capacity road network, along with a polarising effect arising from the implementation of new HSR lines, in line with the results included in recent European- level studies. The paper is based on the work being carried out for the author’s Ph.D. Dissertation, titled: “Assessment of Transport Infrastructure Plans: a strategic approach integrating environmental, economic and spatial equity aspects”. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p480&r=geo |
| By: | Jurian Edelenbos; Geert Teisman |
| Abstract: | The goal of this paper is to describe and analyze co-production in public private partnerships in spatial planning. We will describe one specific case study, the location development project Sijtwende on the edge of two municipalities (The Hague and Voorburg), on the edge of public and private investments and on the edge of urban development and extension of the mobility system. We will elaborate the bottlenecks in the cooperation between several actors involved. Furthermore we will look for important breakthroughs in the process of collaborative development of the area. How was it possible that after a public lock in situation that took more than twenty years a private party was able to force a breakthrough? Finally we will deal with the question what this case learns us for the management of these complex processes of co-production. We will combine theoretical thoughts and empirical insights from our in-depth case study in order to find balances in using project management and process management strategies for managing complex spatial planning processes. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p833&r=geo |
| By: | Óscar Rodil-Marzábal |
| Abstract: | This paper analyses the wage cost and labour productivity differentials in the European Union for period 1995-2000, from a regional and sectorial perspective. To this end we analyse the evolution of the unit labour cost by sector and its decomposition between the unit labour requirement and the unit price of labour. Results show the existence of high regional disparities, that differ with the sector. Also, we find diverse combinations in terms of productivity and unit price of labour, driving to the existence of different competitive strategies. Finally, we try to find the existence of relation between the different patterns of competitiveness and regional economic growth. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p98&r=geo |
| By: | Jan Jacob Trip |
| Abstract: | The combined effects of industrial decline and the development of a service economy currently bring about a change in urban economies. Accessibility, proximity and an attractive urban climate are considered important factors of urban competitiveness. These are all combined in railway station area, which is therefore considered a focus point of urban economic development. The paper investigates the role of station development projects in the perspective of these long-term social and institutional processes in contrast to the continuity found in a city’s estab-lished economic structure, prevailing policy arenas, objectives and cultures. It does so by means of an analysis of station development in Rotterdam, a manufacturing and seaport city now strug-gling to find ways to develop a competitive service economy. The paper draws a comparison with Rotterdam’s rival Amsterdam, showing that differences in present economic performance and urban development are partly rooted in different economic histories. The paper investigates to which extent these differences affect the role of major railway station redevelopment projects in both cities, and the way these projects are implemented. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p822&r=geo |
| By: | Manfred M. Fischer; Thomas Scherngell; Eva Jansenberger |
| Abstract: | The focus in this paper is on knowledge spillovers between high-technology firms in Europe, as captured by patent citations. High-technology is defined to include the ISIC-sectors aerospace (ISIC 3845), electronics-telecommunication (ISIC 3832), computers and office equipment (ISIC 3825), and pharmaceuticals (ISIC 3522). The European coverage is given by patent applications at the European Patent Office that are assigned to high-technology firms located in the EU-25 member states, the two accession countries Bulgaria and Romania, and Norway and Switzerland. By following the paper trail left by citations between these high-technology patents we adopt a Poisson spatial interaction modelling perspective to identify and measure spatial separation effects to interregional knowledge spillovers. In doing so we control for technological proximity between the regions, as geographical distance could be just proxying for technological proximity. The study produces prima facie evidence that geography matters. First, geographical distance has a significant impact on knowledge spillovers, and this effect is substantial. Second, national border effects are important and dominate geographical distance effects. Knowledge flows within European countries more easily than across. Not only geography, but also technological proximity matters. Interregional knowledge flows are industry specific and occur most often between regions located close to each other in technological space. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p5&r=geo |
| By: | Miguel Mateos; Paul Pfaffenbichler |
| Abstract: | Sustainability is one of today's major challenges. A widely accepted definition of sustainability is based on intergenerational equity and a set of sub objectives. Numerous studies provide evidence that cities worldwide do not fulfil the requirements of sustainability. The work presented here investigates whether transport policies of the municipality of Madrid contribute to the high level objective of sustainability. The “Comunidad de Madrid” is situated in the heart of Spain. It covers an area of 8,000 km2. About 5 million people live within the whole region. The city of Madrid itself has about 2.9 million inhabitants. The situation is characterised by a rapid development of housing and businesses in the surroundings of the city. Traffic is characterised by a high share of people commuting into the core city. Although Madrid has an efficient metro line system, this results in a high level of peak hour congestion. As well the land use as the transport system do not fulfil the requirements of sustainability. Different measures were realised and proposed to remedy the current situation. One of these measures is a bus and high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane. The HOV lane covers a 16 kilometres long stretch of the highway N-VI and was opened in the year 1995. The strategic, dynamic land use and transport interaction model MARS (Metropolitan Activity Relocation Simulator) will be used to assess the effects of the HOV lane. MARS covers the whole “Comunidad de Madrid”. Effects on land use and regional travel patterns are predicted with this model. Observed data are used to validate the model results. The potential of the application of HOV lanes to other radial highways is assed by using a modified cost benefit analysis. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p144&r=geo |
| By: | Rossana Galdini |
| Abstract: | This paper analyzes the process of Urban Regeneration in Europe and examines the factors influencing this process as well as its implementation. Foundamental changes in the economy, technology, demography and politics are reshaping the environment for cities in Europe. These changes have induced a logic of competion in a dynamic and complex context. In the attempt to become and remain an attractive place for inhabitants, city users, businessmen and visitors, cities invent their own strategies, discovering that the policies of local governments need to be more marked-oriented with an eye to the city’s weaknesses and strenghts. Many historic cities in recent decades experienced redevelopment for new “postindustrial uses” often related to culture, tourism, technology. Such uses may offer the potential for creating more sustainable and liveable cities. Especially in old industrial areas, new politics, strategies and funds have been used for re-utilization of old industrial sites. Clear examples for this is Italian case studies like Genoa. In Genoa a programme for restructuring the old harbour areas, the waterfront and the historic centre has been set up. Genoa approaches functional specialisation as a more general element in its strategy for increasing economic competitiveness. The development of transport systems, services, infrastructures, promises considerable renovation of the urban functions with a significant growth in the economy linked to cultural activities and tourism. Regeneration programmes for de-industrialised areas have promoted the location and relocation of business investments as well as actions to improve a productive diversification. At present Genoa after a deep crisis, has regained a new identity and its role in the Italian economic and social system. This paper integrates three issues. First it describes some of the main features of pattern of urban development and the increase of competition, setting the scene for a more strategic action. Second analyzes the case study Genoa, an example of integrated urban development approach. Third attention is drawn on the way in which cities “create” their own image management, using actions that shown and reveal hidden resources. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p426&r=geo |
| By: | Vicente Royuela; Jordi Suriñach |
| Abstract: | Optimal City Size Theory has been superseded by new paradigms, such as the supply-oriented dynamic approach or the city network. Nevertheless, several aspects remain to be considered. First, the quality of life concept, which in many models enters into utility functions of households, can be addressed in a different way. Secondly, the bi-directional relationship between amenities and disamenities on the one hand and city size on the other needs to be considered. Both these points are empirically tested with instrumental variables in a local dynamic framework, the 314 municipalities belonging to the province of Barcelona (Spain), in the period 1991-2000. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p519&r=geo |
| By: | Michael Fritsch; Viktor Slavtchev |
| Abstract: | There is a broad consent that the extent, quality as well as the success of innovation activity is critically dependent on the generation and the application of knowledge. It is also widely recognized that innovation processes have a pronounced regional dimension and that the conditions for innovation activity may differ considerably between geographic areas. We investigate the contribution of different inputs, particularly different knowledge sources, on regional patenting output in the framework of a knowledge production function. Earlier work (Fritsch & Franke, 2004) suggests that there are considerable differences with regard to the role of different types of knowledge for innovation activity. These different types of knowledge have different degrees of localization. We expect that the impact of the knowledge sources differs by field of as well as according to the type of institution (university vs. non-university public research institution). .One may, therefore, expects that the technology opportunity differs across sectors and geographical areas. However, little is known about such differences. The innovation indicator used in our analysis is the number of patents. The knowledge sources included are: •R&D employment, •R&D employment in small firms and large firms respectively, •Qualification of the regional workforce, •Qualification of employees in small firms and large firms respectively, •Size (number of employees, budget) of public research institutions by field of research. •Amount of research funds from private firms by field of study. •Amount of external research funds from public departments by field of study. •Amount of external research funds from the German Science Foundation (DFG) by field of study. The contribution of these knowledge sources is tested systematically on the level of German districts (Kreise). Information on the different knowledge sources is available for each district on a yearly basis. We test the influence of the knowledge sources in different specifications by including the respective information for the particular region and for adjacent regions. This will reveal the role of local knowledge and of interregional knowledge spillovers for innovation behavior. We expect that technology performance of regions is a path dependent process. The analysis is performed for German regions in the 1990s. Information on the yearly number of patents relates to the years 1995-2000. regional employment is taken from the German Social Insurance Statistics. Information on universities and their funds are taken from the German Hochschulstatistik which has been especially prepared for this analysis. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p623&r=geo |
| By: | Ryohei Nakamura |
| Abstract: | Agglomeration economies are usually divided into two categories: urbanization economies and localization economies. In 80fs a number of attempts have been devoted to estimate urbanization economies and/or localization economies. After the work by Glaeser et al. in 1992, however, historical effects on agglomeration called dynamic externalities in agglomeration are tried to estimate extensively. These externalities are named as MAR in a dynamic sense, and traditional agglomeration economies are evaluated in static sense. Besides urbanization and localization, more traditional sources of industrial concentration are found in industrial linkages, such as customer and supplier linkages or backward and forward linkages. These linkage effects come from the concentration of different kinds of industries while localization economies mean the benefit from the concentration of firms within the same industry. Also, linkage effects are often referred as pecuniary externalities. This paper tries to construct an estimable model of linkage effects among industries as well as agglomeration economies, and to estimate these effects separately within a framework of the Translog production function. In this model intermediate inputs play an important role as linkage effects. The empirical analysis is based on two-digit data for manufacturing industries in Japanese cities. Estimated results vary significantly among the two-digit industries. Furthermore, in order to capture dynamic effect in changes of agglomeration, a time variant production function model which is consistent to static production function model is constructed and estimated. From the time series evidence we find agglomeration economies are decreasing while linkage effects are still important. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p768&r=geo |
| By: | Gianluigi Coppola; Teresa Vanacore |
| Abstract: | Tourism is very important in Italy. In this article we will discuss about the Economy of the Italian Local Labour Markets specialized in Tourism. We will try to explain, through statistical analysis applied to an Econometrical model, the differences existing among them. The result of our research is that the dichotomy of the Italian economy – North vs. South – is also present in the Tourism industry. Nevertheless, there are significant differences among the Tourism Local Markets in Southern Italy. This implies that a policy on local development may help the region to grow. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p759&r=geo |
| By: | Yiannis Kamarianakis; Vagelis Kaslis |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the nature of interregional competition and complementarity in Greece. Covering the 1975-2002 period, the analysis provides a picture of the interregional interactions by focusing on derived linkages between the regional economies. The adopted methodology combines previous approaches based on the Dendrinos-Sonis model (e.g. Nazara et al 2002, Bonet 2003) and a cointegration modeling framework (Marquez and Hewings, 2003). A sensitivity analysis of the model coefficients that designate competition or complementarity, with respect to time, is undertaken as well. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p552&r=geo |
| By: | David Cantarero; Marta Pascual |
| Abstract: | In this paper we report an analysis of income related health inequalities at the regional level in Spain. We use among others the self assessed health measure and explain the observed differences across Spanish regions due to the effect of socioeconomic characteristics. New data from the Spanish National Health Survey have been used. The results have important implications for health policies and provide empirical evidence about the relationship between health and socioeconomic factors in Spain which should affect the decisions about health care financing system. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p551&r=geo |
| By: | Krister Sandberg; Thomas Westerberg |
| Abstract: | The overall Swedish total fertility rate (TFR) has been shown to fluctuate quite dramatically during the last 40 years, from 2.4 in 1965 reaching down as low as 1.5 in 1999. Although numerous studies in the past have tried to explain this fluctuation, there has been surprisingly little focus on impacts from local or even regional differences. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to analyse, for the first time, whether there exists a significant dispersion in the number of child births normalised by the number of fertile women among Swedish municipalities for the period 1974-2002 and then provide an explanation for occurred differences. Regional differences, as well as the presence of spatial dependence, are first confirmed in an exploratory spatial data analysis. Particularly noticeable is the volatility and how local hotspots emerge and disappear during the study period. Subsequent regression analyses are performed for a selected number of years where we solve for spatial dependence and use economic-, institutional-, sociological-, and geographical characteristics of the municipalities as explanatory variables. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p431&r=geo |
| By: | Robert J. Verhaeghe; Poul Grashoff; Barry Zondag |
| Abstract: | The role of water in spatial planning has received increasing attention in recent years. It was, for example, one of the leading motives in the preparation of the latest National Spatial Planning Note for The Netherlands. For the preparation of such spatial plans, and to support the associated policy analysis, there is a need to fully identify and characterize the interactions between the water sector and spatial planning and establish the process for making consistent joint projections for the water sector and land-use. This should account for spatial claims from the water sector, balance those claims with claims from other sectors, and feed back spatial constraints and opportunities. Land-use markets and government policies (translated e.g. in spatial reservations) form an important input in this balance. Modeling is indispensable to keep track of spatial characteristics and trace changes. Most of the available modeling considers a layered structure with a layer for national/regional projections and a GIS based layer to keep track of land use changes. Basically such model makes a distribution (rule based) of the national projections into the GIS based spatial raster, followed by an impact assessment based on the changes in the raster. Those models are generally weak in representing the processes driving land use changes such as the housing and labor market and – the water sector. The challenge remains to set up a suitable module covering these spatial - and water sector development processes. Based on the experience of the authors with many water studies and the recent development of a space-transport modeling tool (integration of transport and land-use), a sketch will be made of the requirements for such module. The scope for such planning tool will be illustrated (with data for The Netherlands), addressing key aspects such as competition for space, costs, risk, and environmental impact. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p338&r=geo |
| By: | Antonio Russo |
| Abstract: | This paper introduces the main findings of the CULTURAL GATEWAYS project caried out during 2004-2005 by the author wiht a eserach fellowship at Universitat Autonoma, Barcelona. The aim of the project is the development of a sustainable urban-rural relationship in the organisation of tourist regions around main urban destination. The projects analyses existing visitation models and cognitive processes of visitors in main destinations, as well as existing organisations that produce culture in peripheral areas, elaborating strategies to promote and diffuse these less-known assets. A key motive is to build on the existing tourist potential, developing “gateways” (both physical and virtual) that reconnect the cultural heritage of peripheral communities to existing value chains. The departure point is that the preservation of cultural heritage through responsible tourism is the key to generating both wealth and well being in host communities. Experience demonstrates that host communities are better able to cope with existing problems and new challenges, when all concerned parties jointly attempt to find a balanced solution through mutual consultation, business-to-business co-operation and public-private partnerships. The main challenge to that respect is that many local communities do not realise the interest value that features of their local community may have to the outside world. It is believed that the “metropolitan” or “regional” dimension of tourism governance, and thus necessarily of cultural strategies, is the key to a more sustainable use of the heritage and cultural assets for community development. A restructured core-periphery visitation pattern benefits the communities involved, in terms of lower pressure levels and crowding of central destinations, of enhanced entrepreneurial capacity in rural areas, and of a more articulated visitor mobility on the territory, rebalancing the costs and revenues generated by tourism and boosting the spin-off potential of tourism in areas with a weak economic basis but rich in culture. On this account, ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) are seen as a promising tool that achieves a number of desirable outcomes: o global access to local cultural knowledge, o interactivity between the local cultural and foreign audiences with the establishment of “cultural empathy” between hosts and guests, o integration of the peripheral tourist areas in the distribution channels of core products, o empowerment and training for entrepreneurs in the cultural industries. The effects of global-urban-rural partnership through e-Strategies are tested in a number of pilot destination regions, including the Catalan and the Galician Communities in Spain and the Veneto Region in Italy. The project will analyse how the introduction of ICT tools for tourism and cultural marketing has changed (or is likely to change) visitors’ attitudes and community involvement for a more sustainable tourism. An attempt will be made at generalising the results providing guidelines for regional managers. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p268&r=geo |
| By: | Wilson Suzigan; Joao Furtado; Renato Garcia; Sergio Sampaio |
| Abstract: | This paper develops multiple indicators to map the geographical distribution of knowledge and scientific and technological capabilities as proxies of the geographical distribution of Science, Technology & Innovation activities, and applies such indicators to data and information from the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The overall view of the geographical distribution of S,T&I activities in the state is complemented by the analysis of the same activities in the perspective of a local production and innovation system: the case of information and communication technologies in the micro-region of Campinas. The results show a pattern for the regional distributions of S,T&I activities along the main highways of the state, around metropolitan areas such as São Paulo and Campinas, and in regions where educational, science and technology, and R&D institutions are strongly concentrated. Firms tend to agglomerate in these areas and regions, forming local production and innovation systems. The paper produces evidence on the adherence of the geographical distribution of those systems to the geographical distribution of S,T&I activities as shown by the indicators. This confirms the empirical findings of the literature about the relationship between geography and innovation. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p362&r=geo |
| By: | Danielle Snellen; Hans Hilbers; Arno Hendriks |
| Abstract: | Mobility reduction and modal shift towards public transport, walking and cycling were important aims of the Dutch spatial policy from the nineties (VINEX). This policy encompassed several criteria for new housing developments, to limit the mobility these generate. This paper reports on a study into the mobility consequences of the developments that were the result of this VINEX policy. It discusses the compliance of these locations with policy criteria and analyses the (car) travel behaviour of their inhabitants. The study focusses on the spatial situation of all newly built housing from the period 1995-2003 and the travel behaviour of their occupants. Part of these are classified as VINEX developments or dwellings, others are not developed as part of the VINEX policy and are referred to as non-VINEX. Results were obtained from detailled analyses of spatial characteristics and regression analyses of individual travel patterns. Differences between sections of the population and their specific characteristics are controlled for. The results show that the situation on the VINEX developments is largely in accordance with policy intentions, both with regard to proximity and accessibility. Many houses have been built within the existing urban area and the location of green field developments in relation to urban centres is favourable. Public transport facilities are on average better for VINEX dwellings, than elsewhere. Policy implementation was less succesful with regard to mixing land uses and the distances to daily amenities. The mobility generated proves to vary strongly between different types of locations. New developments, in general, generate more motorised mobility than average. Locations that were developed as part of the VINEX policy do better than non-VINEX. Especially the innercity VINEX-developments is characterised by low car use, despite the fact that they are inhabited by a relatively mobile section of the population. However, the results also show that innercity developments are most useful when located in the older parts of cities. Car use was high on Vinex-greenfield locations, but that is mainly caused by the composition of the population. The spatial criteria for VINEX developments, proximity and accessibility, have in fact played an important role in the more favourable mobility pattern. Particularly the location near urban centres and the accessibility by public transport have contributed to the lower car use in VINEX developments in comparison to non-VINEX. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p549&r=geo |
| By: | Gertrudes Guerreiro; Conceição Rego |
| Abstract: | In 1989, Portugal has adopted the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) of the European Union (EU) to promote statistical normalisation in the EU. This classification grouped the portuguese municipalities in three levels: NUTS III (28 units in the Mainland), NUTS II (5 units in the Mainland) and NUTS I (3 units: Mainland, Madeira Islands and Azores Islands). In 2002, the Portuguese government approved a law introducing some modifications to the former nomenclature, namely in the regions of Centro, Lisboa e Vale do Tejo and Alentejo. Further to these modifications, some NUTS III units were moved from Lisboa e Vale do Tejo (new designation is Lisboa) to Centro and Alentejo. In this paper we group territorial units, following the methodology of cluster analysis, making use of official statistics like the population census of 2001. Our goal is to obtain homogenous NUTS II in economic and social terms, therefore challenging the 2002 nomenclature modifications. We select our variables to characterise the territorial units, according to the competitiveness territorial pyramid (Mateus et al., 2000), which classifies the territorial analysis by themes like demography, labour market, workers qualifications, innovation, entrepreneurship, productive specialization and infrastructures to support production. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p800&r=geo |
| By: | Jan Suchacek |
| Abstract: | Regions of traditional industry are often perceived as doomed to economic decline. Old industrial regions in transitional countries constitute entirely new category of problem regions since their economic decay differs from their western counterparts substantially both in terms of the origin and the character of their troubles. In the early 1990s these regions suddenly faced the double shock in the form of severe international competition and rather painful inner restructuring. Restructuring of old industrial areas in Central East Europe thus represents a truly topical problem not only for the sake of its unprecedented character but also with regard to its socio-economic impacts. Some of these regions suffer from serious socio-economic problems just according to the initial gloomy prognoses on the one hand but the group of temporary winners emerged on the other hand. It is argued that differentiated transformational trajectories of old industrial regions in transitional countries cannot be satisfactorily explained by traditional theories. However, institutional approaches combined with hermeneutical methods bring acceptable clarification of the diverse development of such kind of regions in Central East Europe. The paper is devoted to the comparison of restructuring in Ostrava agglomeration (Czech Republic) and Katowice conurbation (Poland) from institutional-hermeneutical perspective. While in case of Ostrava region this restructuring turned out to be far from perfect, in Katowice area, on the contrary, pessimistic scenario did not materialise. The different course of restructuring in afore-mentioned regions will be analysed from both rank-territorial (national and regional) and functional (restructuring of traditional industries, development of new activities and communication level of restructuring) perspectives. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p200&r=geo |
| By: | Toshiaki Takita |
| Abstract: | This paper aims to develop a new spatial economic model for analyzing information flow between head and branch offices. The hierarchy between head and branch offices is modeled, and a way of treating information flow is proposed. Broadband Internet enables both home and office to send and receive much more information using personal computers, and the resulting changes and possibilities deserve analysis. This paper sets out how to decide the location of the head office and some branch offices, and the allocation of all employees and computers to head and branch offices. Also, an inter-regional Information Input-Output Table (Information IO Table) is proposed to express the information flow between the head office and the branch offices and between those offices and other enterprises. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p684&r=geo |
| By: | Ebru Kerimoglu; Hale Ciraci |
| Abstract: | It is s common fact that tourism is a leading sector in progress of under-developed and developing regions. Consistent with the policies to ensure tourism variety and spreading tourism activities throught out the country in to the four seasons, efforts to find and develope natural, historical, archeological and cultural resources in different regions of Turkey are continuing. In spite of the various tourism potentials of the cities that are developed in urban scale and socio-economic progress, their tourism development levels are not as required. In this study, the tourism policies followed in Turkey since 1970’s and influence of those policies on the investment distrubition and space are investigated and the socio-cultural and socio-economic reasons underlying the failure of Turkey’s developed cities to reach the required level in the tourism development are stated. Depending on the time, the touristic development levels and socio-economic development levels of Turkish provinces are designated and the relation between them are evaluated. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p580&r=geo |
| By: | Mette Deding; Trine Filges; Jos Van Ommeren |
| Abstract: | We test a number of hypotheses derived from search theory about spatial job and residential moving behaviour of two-earner households using data for Denmark. In line with theory, we demonstrate that residential mobility depends positively on the commuting distance of both spouses, but negatively on the distance between workplaces. Furthermore, job mobility depends positively on the worker's commuting distance, negatively on the spouse' s commuting distance and positively on the distance between workplaces. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p256&r=geo |
| By: | Pieter Hendrik Pellenbarg |
| Abstract: | The paper surveys what is known from various data sources about the process of firm migration in the Netherlands. The availability and quality of data sources concerning firm migration are discussed, just as the development of firm migration processes in the past decades, and the impact of firm migrations on regional economic structures and regional employment. This impact is then compared with the impact of other firm demographic components, i.e. new firm establishments, and firm closures. Then the regional patterns of firm migration are shown – to the extent that the data sources allow - with a focus on the movements in and out of the national economic core region (the Randstad). Especially for the sector of manufacturing industry we witness a gradual change, from a clear-cut core-periphery deconcentration pattern in the past to a more erratic pattern at present. This is related to a gradual change in the main migration motives, from labour market shortages to lack of space and accessibility, and from hard to soft location factors. Finally the paper addresses the role of government policies in guiding firm migrations to policy assisted regions and locations. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p435&r=geo |
| By: | Komei Sasaki; Xiang-chun Lu |
| Abstract: | Within a framewaork of New Economic Geography (NEG) model, this paper intends to show that urbanization rate in an isolated region is determined as a synthetic rerult of rational behavior of each socio-economic agent. In particular, a model is constructed with bearing to explain the urbanization process in Chaina in mind such that the role of government in managing land use allocation is explicitly incorporated and its policy effects can be evaluated. Some results of theoretical analysis and numerical simulation analysis are contrasted with the ones in Fujita and Krugman (1995) incorporating land into an NEG model as well. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p167&r=geo |
| By: | Johannes Bröcker; Nils Schneekloth |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the spatial impact of two main aspects of European transport policy, namely infrastructure investments and pricing. In its "White Paper: European Transport Policy for 2010: Time to Decide" the European Commission has laid down a comprehensive programme of transport policy within the EU, aiming at increasing the efficiency of the transport industry, developing the so-called trans-European infrastructure network and bringing the prices of transport services closer to the true marginal social cost. It is an important political issue whether the policy will enhance spatial cohesion in Europe or run counter the objective of a balanced economic development in the entire area of the EU. For one thing this is because spatial development objectives are themselves prominent goals among the catalogue of objectives to be attained by transport policy. Particularly infrastructure investments which are co-financed by the structural funds, are regarded a means of regional policy supporting less favoured regions. Furthermore, transport policies motivated by efficiency or environmental reasons may have undesired regional side effects, that could generate political backlash, unless one offers some compensation. The spatial impact of the two named policies is studied with the help of a spatial computable general equilibrium model, called CGEurope. It is a static model with a large number of regions covering the whole area of the EU including the new member states, plus neighbouring countries, some of them also subdivided by regions. Regions interact by trade flows. Interregional trade is costly, with trade costs depending inter alia on the state of infrastructure and on gasoline prices and infrastructure charges. Transport policies are simulated by varying the costs of transport and quantifying the impact on the welfare of households brought about by changes in goods and factor prices. We develop a series of policy scenarios and evaluate their impact an spatial equality or inequality using a whole bundle of indicators of spatial inequality. The paper documents theses scenarios, explains the modelling framework in brief, discusses the inequality indicators to be used and maps and tabulates the main results. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p624&r=geo |
| By: | Gunther Maier |
| Abstract: | This paper reports the results of a survey about important journals in regional science. A web-based survey among regional scientists produces results about their opinion about the quality and reputation of regional science journals. The results are analyzed for stability over various characteristics of respondents like age, affiliation, nationality, main area of specialication, etc. The results are also compared to those derived from an analysis of publication records, citations and impact factors. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p332&r=geo |
| By: | Antje Mertens; Anette Haas |
| Abstract: | The role of mobility is central to the debate on reducing unemployment. A further question is to what extent a lack of mobility enforces regional disparities. Using a micro data set containing information about two cohorts we analyse the impact of regional unemployment at district level to regional employment duration. As an alternative to the frequently used Logit analysis approach we focus to duration time analyses. We use Cox Regression (Breslow Method for ties) and Piece wise constant models to find out the impact of regional unemployment rate for duration working in a special region. Additionally we could differentiate between voluntary and involuntary mobility. The results of this comparison show a contrary influence of the regional unemployment rate. Our results confirm the lower mobility of woman and that the younger cohort exhibits higher mobility rates. We also compare downward/upward moves (defined as wage losses/gains after mobility) and could not find evidence for influence of regional unemployment rate to wage growth. This yields us to the conclusion that high levels of regional unemployment inhibit mobility because of a lack of vacancies. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p592&r=geo |
| By: | Ghebreegziabiher Debrezion; Eric Pels; Piet Rietveld |
| Abstract: | In an efficient market, the levels of house prices reflect the values of value of physical, accessibility and environmental features corresponding to the house. The Dutch residential house market though could not be claimed to work under a perfectly efficient market; the prices can be diagnosed to reflect the value of these features. This paper focuses on the value of railway accessibility feature to the residential houses prices. Stations are treated as transport access points with distance and frequency of train services components and potential places for negative externalities. Applying a cross sectional hedonic price model, we found railway stations as identified by frequency of train service has elasticity of close to 0.3 for house up to a distance of 3 kms. Due to the spatial nature of the data we controlled the spatial effects by regional dummies. Proximity to railway line as differing from proximity to station, explaining the noise effect, has negative effect on prices. At the same time the immediate neighbourhood of the station is affected negatively from externality of the station. Highway accessibility on the other hand shows slightly different effect on house prices, in that peak effects occur at 4-5 km from the highway entry/exit point. All other physical and neighbourhood variables as income level and population composition show expected effect on house prices. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p748&r=geo |
| By: | Maria Luisa Decuir-Viruez |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the role of institutional factors in the economic growth of Mexican regions. Following on from the documents presented at the ERSA Annual Conferences of 2003/4, it contains an analysis of two of these regions and seeks to illustrate the characteristics and evolution of their institutional frameworks as well as their relationship with economic growth. The regions are Aguascalientes - one of the most successful cases in Mexico in the period 1970 to 2000 - and Veracruz - one of the most lagging regions for the same period. The aim of this paper is to find the institutional elements (incentives, rules, laws and informal agreements) that are behind the economic variables, and, ultimately, to evaluate whether they have helped these regions to have better results in terms of growth. Market orientation, the strategic sectors, their instruments of promotion and export and Foreign Direct Investment projects (fiscal incentives, installation and administrative facilities) were all evaluated at local level. The fluctuations of local public finances and the level of financial autonomy were also included in the analysis. With the results of this paper we intend to contribute to the understanding of the relationship between institutional features and regional growth. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p145&r=geo |
| By: | Tomi Tura; Tuomo Uotila |
| Abstract: | The article discusses the case of Finnish universities and polytechnics in re-defining their roles in regional development and especially in regional innovation environment. The so-called third task of universities, together with the regional relevance of polytechnics, has been a central topic in current regional and educational policies. The Finnish system of higher education and research is highly decentralised, including about 50 non-independent regional university units, most of them founded in order to enhance the regional effectiveness of universities. The article introduces the concept of “third task organisations” to describe these units within universities and polytechnics with regional effectiveness as their primary mission. In the article, the role of these units as both regional and scientific actors is discussed. The analysis identifies certain “non-traditional” forms of regional effectiveness of universities and polytechnics in the context of regional innovation environment. Building on this analysis, a new conceptual model of regional effectiveness is developed. As a case study, three different third task organisations within polytechnics and regional university units are analysed. It is argued that they form a challenge to the way universities, and perhaps polytechnics, too, define their role in regional innovation activities. They also problematise the common understanding of the way universities and polytechnics define their division of labour in regional development. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p762&r=geo |
| By: | Philip McCann; Stephen Lee |
| Abstract: | A number of studies have examined the benefits of regional diversification strategies within commercial real estate portfolios with two approaches adopted; the first is based on primary contiguous geographical regions while the second employs areas based on economic function. In general, the conclusion is that diversifications strategies based on simple geographical areas adds little, if anything, while economic based regions have shown much greater potential. The economic regions approach to portfolio analysis appears to be a much more valuable tool in evaluating regional real estate investment opportunities and risks. The reason is that this method allows consistent risk measurement between aerial units and enables the portfolio manager to develop a geographically diversified portfolio through the use of economically cohesive regions. The aim of this paper is therefore to identify how the application of these portfolio investment techniques determines the flows of funds coming into regions, and the consequent impacts on regional investment in the regional built environment. Most previous research on this issue is based in the US with studies in other countries largely hampered by lack of real estate data and/or acceptable definitions of economic regions. This study therefore attempts to rectify this position in the UK using a large data set of real estate and socio-economic data. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p473&r=geo |
| By: | Bjarne Madsen; Chris Jensen-Butler |
| Abstract: | The paper gives a mathematical presentation of the interregional general equilibrium model LINE, which is a sub-regional economic model for Danish municipalities. LINE is an extended version of a simple national general equilibrium model, where space and SAM-actors have been included. The basic structure of the model includes a real circle, showing the conventional Keynesian demand chain, where production is determined by demand, income by production, and private consumption by income. In this circle regional and interregional spillover and feed-back effects and interaction between SAM-actors are included. Further, the basic structure includes a cost-price circle, showing the determination of prices of production by the costs of production, including costs of intermediate consumption, wages and salaries and profits. Sector prices are then transformed to commodity prices by place of production, to commodity prices at place of commodity market place and to private consumption at place of residence. Finally, LINE is closed through a number of links between the real circle and cost-price circle, including equations for the behaviour of the consumers and producers. Given the analytical solution to LINE, it is possible to evaluate the regional impacts of changes in exogenous variables, such as the transport system or policy instruments. Using model multipliers obtained from the analytical solution the impacts of changes in regional demand and its structure, changes in regional productivity, changes in regional labour market and other regional economic changes are examined. Of special interest are the impacts of changes in regional accessibility, which in the new economic geography literature, is an important factor determining regional development. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p326&r=geo |
| By: | Toni Mora |
| Abstract: | Recent contributions to the literature on public choice have examined the effects of regional fiscal balances and unsuitable decentralization mechanisms on the capability of regional governments to make expenditure decisions. We focus on Spanish regional case. Our results suggest that, given the negative relationship between additional improvements in tax revenue retention rates and the propensity to subsidize, the decentralization of revenues would be a more effective measure. Thus, the enhancement of the autonomous expenditure capacity of regional governments would be a more appropriate policy to adopt. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p317&r=geo |
| By: | Anna Iara |
| Abstract: | At the enlargement of the European Union, the integration of the Central European applicant countries to the European economic area had already been widely implemented. In particular, trade reorientation to the West and foreign direct investment (FDI) had generated intensive economic linkages between old and new EU members. Transformation and economic integration have further resulted in changing patterns of regional specialization. At the same time, the Central European applicant countries experienced considerable regional disparities in economic growth. In Hungary too, sizeable regional disparities opened up in the 1990s. Motivated by recent economic theories this paper looks at the impact of some factors of European economic integration, in particular of FDI density, orientation to foreign markets, and manufacturing specialisation, on regional growth in Hungary at the NUTS III level. With panel data covering the years 1994-2001, I perform growth regressions with OLS, after finding regional fixed effects insignificant. I check for the robustness of the results to the omission of the capital region and to the correction for contemporaneous correlation across regions. I find that the share of agricultural employment and the change in export orientation of the regions are the paramount determinants of regional growth. A region having twice as high a share in agricultural employment than another produces a growth rate that is 15-20% lower. Besides, faster growing regions also have extensive export activity. Doubling the share of export in manufacturing output enhances the growth rate by around 7%. Investment per capita, the change in the employment rate, FDI density and the change in regional specialisation are found to enhance regional growth in some but not all specifications. Since higher growth of the back-lagging regions in Hungary can be expected from onward structural change with labour moving out of the agrarian sector, policies designed to address development issues in rural areas should therefore be an important aspect of regional policy. Promoting the orientation of the Hungarian economic actors towards foreign markets is also likely to be beneficial for the boost of regional growth. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p342&r=geo |
| By: | Berry Blijie |
| Abstract: | Transport in general, and accessibility of people, jobs and services in particular, is assumed to have an important impact on the residential choice behavior of households. After all, the amount of activities that can be deployed by the household members, whether labor, leisure or socially correlated, is determined by the accessibility of a location. The past decades, residential location choice of households has been subject of study of many researches. Nevertheless, the relation between accessibility and residential choice has shown to be hard to verify empirically. Such (empirical) knowledge, however, can help address many of the problems that urban regions are facing nowadays, like the (re-) location of residential areas and jobs, the planning of new infrastructure and predicting the amount of traffic generated by commuting and leisure activities. The first part of this paper gives an overview of the literature on residential choice behavior, with an emphasis on research that studied the relation with accessibility. Next, the results of a discrete choice model for the residential choice behavior of households will be presented. The model is estimated on the National Housing Survey, in which over 75 thousand Dutch households were inquired on their current and previous housing situation. Different aspects of the residential choice decision are incorporated in the model, like the dwelling type, the location of the dwelling and the characteristics of the household, all in relation with the influence of accessibility. The results show that individual accessibility measures, like migration distance, commuting distance and access to public transport for households without a car, have more impact than the often used general measures like the amount of jobs within 30 minutes travel time, which is apparently the same for all inhabitants in a region. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p626&r=geo |
| By: | Genevieve Giuliano; Christian Redfearn |
| Abstract: | Are contemporary metropolitan regions becoming more dispersed? The collective set of urban models tells us two stories. The first is that changes in the structure of the economy, ever faster and cheaper information and communications technologies, and the dispersion of the labor force have broadened the scope of agglomeration economies. Hence employment will continue to decentralize. The alternative story argues that heavy reliance on face-to-face communication in the information economy, economies of scale and scope in infrastructure, and historical path dependence in urban spatial patterns suggest that highly localized agglomeration economies continue to exist. The purpose of our research is to establish robust empirical evidence that can help clarify the debate over the evolution of economic activity within a metropolitan area and provide the data that can be used to test the implications of many of the models that speak to urban dynamics. We examine changes in employment patterns in the Los Angeles region, from 1980 to 2000. As a rapidly growing, prototypically polycentric region, Los Angeles provides an interesting case study of spatial evolution. Using data from 1980, 1990 and 2000, we identify employment centers and describe spatial trends in the pattern of employment inside and outside these centers. Our findings point to three trends in the evolution of the topography of employment. First, there is a remarkable degree of stability in the system of centers. While a small number of centers appear and disappear, the large majority of centers are evident throughout the three sample periods. This stability does not mean that the distribution of employment has been static, however. The second trend is a marked spread in the average distance of jobs from the traditional core: the average job in 2000 was significantly further from downtown than in 1980. This decentralization is not simply dispersion, but rather both deconcentration and concentration. That is, while the most rapid job growth has occurred in the outer suburbs, suburban employment centers have become more numerous, larger and more concentrated. These trends appear to defy simple models of urban evolution and call for a more nuanced understanding of the dynamics underlying these trends. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p686&r=geo |
| By: | Bernardo Furtado |
| Abstract: | This quick essay aims to demonstrate the fundamental importance of the cost of producing and managing urban space from a developing country perspective. It also indicates, based upon vast literature, that the price of urban investments end up to have an expelling trend to citizens away from the benefits which they cannot afford. This paradox suggests a vice cycle in which the more the City invests the more expensive it becomes to its citizens who, helplessly, move out into unserviced neighborhoods. This paper ends with some suggestions to the problem. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p682&r=geo |
| By: | German Vetrov; Ioulia Zaitseva |
| Abstract: | The results of survey, Municipal Governance in Modern Russia, was conducted in 2003 – 2004 by the Institute for Urban Economics (IUE), are presented in the paper. The primary goal of the research is to take an inventory of the experience accumulated by the cities in the field of managing local development, focusing on such important parameters as local leaders’ awareness of new management technologies and popularity of such technologies, activity of municipalities at inter-municipal level, technical equipment of administrations. The study of the present status of municipal governance in Russia is all the more important now, with the beginning of a critically new period in the development of Russian cities. Internal and external factors of various nature determine the beginning of this period. On the one hand, relative economic stability in the country and experience accumulated over the years enabled many cities to turn at last from current problems and institutional reforms to strategic planning of their development. On the other hand, the system of local self-governance itself is being transformed drastically by the state – both in terms of territorial organization and municipal powers and interaction between different levels of government. Further transformation is determined by the new version of the Federal Law, On the General Principles of the Organization of Local Self-Governance in the Russian Federation, passed on October 6, 2003 (#131-FZ). The law will fully come into force on January 1, 2006, but preparatory work is already under way in Russian regions. The following main conclusions can be drawn, based on the survey results. 1.New advanced technologies of municipal governance and instruments of socio-economic development have passed the phase of pilot implementation and are now being disseminated on a mass scale. 2.Network of inter-municipal contacts has become a reality and is functioning actively. 3.Computerization of local administrations and information access of city residents have reached a rather high level. 4.Local self-governments are still faced with their traditional problems, first of all, finances and personnel. 5.Population size is not a decisive factor in institutional development of Russian cities. 6.Almost all sample municipalities are familiar with the new version of the law, On the General Principles of the Organization of Local Self-Governance in the Russian Federation. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p718&r=geo |
| By: | Giuseppe Arbia; Laura De Dominicis; Gianfranco Piras |
| Abstract: | Is inequality good or bad for growth? This issue, with its important political bearings, has attracted much attention in the past in the economic literature. Starting from the seminal work of Kuznet (1955), in the literature there is some empirical evidence that economies with unequal distribution of income grow faster than those with an even income distribution. Such a belief has been heavily criticised by recent studies, and some contrasting views, supported by empirical evidence, were expressed e.g. by Aghion et al. (1999). Barro (2000) also argues in this direction, but empirically found little overall relation between income inequality on one side and growth rates and investment on the other. The debate, thus, seems still open. In our analysis we aim at investigating whether space and spatial relationships play a significant role in the specification of the relationship between regional inequality and regional growth. In particular, we analyse the case of European Regions, including the transition countries that recently joined the EU. In the empirical analysis, we make use of spatial panel data models, as they let us consider both time-invariant country specific fixed-effects and spatial dependence. By controlling for omitted variables and for spatial dependence we can be more confident that the estimated coefficient measures exactly the impact of inequality on the growth process. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p168&r=geo |
| By: | J. A. Cadima Ribeiro; Laurentina Cruz Vareiro; Carmen Padin Fabeiro; Xulio Pardellas de Blas |
| Abstract: | Tourism has an enormous potential while instrument of regional development. However, the opportunities are not the same for each territory and it is easy to understand that, considering the resources available, not every region has the choice to base its development strategy in the touristic industry. Taking this in consideration, the mission of classifying, evaluating and compare, from a consistent and realistic point a view, several groups of tourist resources became a necessary task and a precondition to define the touristic vocation of a region. This approach allows to select the best alternative to tourism development. The paper attempts to catalogue the tourist resources of the selected territory and to evaluate the different sort of resources available, using several classification approaches, aiming to calculate its index of touristic potential. We believe that the before mention methodology might be a valuable instrument to identify the strongnesses and weaknesses of the Minho-Lima sub-region (Portugal) in what refers to its touristic development, as well as the degree of integration of the tourism sector in the local productive system. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p113&r=geo |
| By: | Thomas Straatemeier |
| Abstract: | It is difficult to prove a direct causal link between the spatial patterns of economic activities and the quality of the transport system. But it seems obvious that the transport system creates conditions, which enable economic activities to interact with each other. The concept of potential accessibility – or what and how can be reached from a given point in space within a certain travel time – can provide a useful conceptual framework to describe these conditions. For economic activities it is not the transport system itself that is important, but the fact that the transport systems provides them with access to workers, consumers et cetera. It is therefore necessary to take both the qualities of the transport system and the land-use system in to account, which is exactly what measuring potential accessibility does. Depending on the kind of economic activity you’re looking at different accessibility conditions may be important. This paper investigates for the Amsterdam region the quality of the potential accessibility on different scales (global - regional – local) and compares these qualities to the spatial pattern of different economic activities to see which qualities are more favorable to certain activities then others. Creating these favorable accessibility conditions is what planners of the land-use and transport system should aim for. The paper concludes with reviewing different regional planning policies to see if this is true. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p453&r=geo |
| By: | Alessia Ruggiero |
| Abstract: | Since the publication of Krugman's paper on "Geography and Trade" in 1991, a burgeoning literature has developed under the heading New Economic Geography. In the following we shall survey the NEG literature and critically evaluate its contribution relative to earlier work on similar topics. More specifically, we will focus our attention on a model that seems to have given new impulses to the introduction of spatial factors into the economic analysis: Krugman’s model. We will proceed with our assesment analysing if and to which extent the features of the model are effective in investigating a real local system of firms: the Etna Valley, an industrial agglomeration specialized in the production of microelectronic components in the area around the Sicilian town of Catania. What emerges from the critical analysis is that the above model results to be extremely simplified. If, on one hand this may be true for every economic model, on the other, we feel that, in our specific case study, the formalization of the processes of local development does not result to be entirely useful. Indeed, great part of the analysis of the industrial district based on the “industrial atmosphere” (Marshall, 1890) remains out of the picture. Therefore, we find more useful the positions of those authors that not drawing on the deductive methods of theorising and analysing employed by Krugman, nonetheless have managed to enlighten mechanisms that seem to be more apt to investigate dynamics taking place in developing areas. More specifically, they seem to offer more useful insights in the context of non stationary economies where markets are not yet stabilized and therefore are not entirely capable of adequately transmitting incentives and information to the actors in the economy. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p273&r=geo |
| By: | Uwe Blien; Jens Suedekum; Katja Wolf |
| Abstract: | In times of high and persistent unemployment, it has become one of the most important policy tasks in many developed countries to trigger a process of sustained employment growth. An illustrative example is the policy of regional “growth-poles”, which assumes that a local concentration of a specific industry in a limited geographical area will lead to a growth take-off. The theoretical rationale for this type of regional policy can be knowledge spillovers, whose importance for the economic (employment) growth has been emphasised in the endogenous growth literature. Yet, there is a considerable debate about the precise nature of knowledge spillovers. Do the externalities accrue between sectors (Jacobs-externalities), or are they rather intra-sectoral (MAR-externalities)? Apart from the question what local economic structure is conducive for employment growth, an equally important issue concerns the timing of the impact of externalities. Is it the current economic structure that matters for employment growth, or rather the historical economic structure? If the former turns out to be the case, regional policies might become effective immediately. In the latter case the impact of policy might be slower but also longer lasting. In this paper we study the dynamics of local employment growth in West Germany from 1980 to 2001. Using dynamic panel techniques, we analyse the nature and the timing of Jacobs- and Marshall-Arrow-Romer externalities, as well as the impact of general human capital spillovers. Jacobs-externalities are stronger in manufacturing than in services, the opposite is true for MAR-externalities. General human capital spillovers are only found in manufacturing. The influence of all forms of externalities rapidly decays in time, suggesting that they are rather static than dynamic. Additionally, we look at the impact of competition, general agglomeration effects and overly high regional wages on local employment growth. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p620&r=geo |
| By: | Robbert Zandvliet; Martin Dijst |
| Abstract: | In a network society, spurred on by technological, social, and economic factors, the process of land use deconcentration has resulted in various new urban forms such as edge cities and edgeless cities. While the consequences of this process for the distribution of the residential population and travel patterns have been extensively described and analyzed, there has as yet been little investigation of its effect on visitors’ use of places. The aim of this study is to develop a typology of urban, suburban, and rural municipalities located in monocentric and polycentric urban systems on the basis of dimensions of diurnal weekday variations in visitor populations. The dimensions used in this study have been derived from the 1998 Netherlands National Travel Survey. A two-step cluster analysis resulted in five types of municipality: ‘central place’, ‘contemporary node’, ‘self-contained’, ‘mobile children’, and ‘local children’. The results reveal that, compared with monocentric urban systems, settlements in polycentric urban systems are more networked; that is, suburbs in these systems are capable of attracting a substantial share of working visitors who have their residence in the core city (‘contemporary node’) and school children from other suburban and central city communities (‘mobile children’). Outside the urban systems the ‘self-contained’ type, which contains people at work, learning, and in recreation locally and lacks the inflow of visitors from outside, is over represented. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p203&r=geo |
| By: | Matthieu Crozet; Pamina Koenig |
| Abstract: | This paper provides an empirical investigation of the cohesion versus growth tradeoff on European regions at a fine geographical disaggregation level. We use data on gdp per capita at the NUTS3 level for 1980-2000 to estimate the influence of income dispersion within NUTS1 on their economic growth. We analyze the existence of the tradeoff using Redding and Venables’(2004) approach. From a simple new economic geography model in which we add a technological externality in order to allow for local growth, we derive an estimable equation linking the level of factor prices in a region to the level of inequalities inside that region, as well as the region’s access to markets. Our results show a positive relation between the gdp per capita growth rate of a region and the change in the level of inequalities inside the region. Finally, an increase in market potential, as expected, has an unambiguous positive impact on local growth. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p716&r=geo |
| By: | Marcel Van Gils; Menno Huys |
| Abstract: | Airports and seaports in general serve as important nodes that connect national, regional and local areas with global networks. The balancing of the apparently contradictory spatial quality requirements of this multi-level and multi-actor environment is a challenge. The focus of this paper is on spatial quality requirements regarding the port region of Rotterdam. A well-known theory that can describe the rationale behind the need for balancing between localised and non-localised networks is Manuel Castells notion of the space of places and the space of flows in the network society. These concepts are taken as input for the case study about the port of Rotterdam. The non-localised (global) networks are dominated by Transnational Corporations that try to expand their revenues by optimising the logistic chain. Ports are nodes in this chain and are expected to offer effective and efficient throughput. On the other hand the national, regional and local environment in which the port is embedded puts other spatial claims on the port area. For making realistic policies regarding the future spatial development of a port it is of crucial importance that the different spatial quality requirements of the involved stakeholders are recognized. Only then it is possible to develop new ways of coping with the diverging claims. The mapping and analysis of the spatial quality requirements that come together in the port region of Rotterdam forms the main aim of this paper. The insights can be used when developing more sustainable and realistic policies for the future. The first step is to identify the main domains of spatial quality requirements. These can be roughly split in economic, social and ecological requirements. Then the perceptions of the main stakeholders regarding the future spatial quality of the Rotterdam port region shall be mapped on the basis of interviews and the study of policy documents. After the identification of the claims we look how is dealt with the different spatial claims in the policies regarding the port of Rotterdam. After this the authors consider the consequences of the outcomes for the Dutch seaport policy. Then it is possible to answer the question if the current policies deal adequately with the different claims. In the concluding paragraph some recommendations are presented to optimise the balance between localised and non-localised spatial quality requirements for the port of Rotterdam. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p142&r=geo |
| By: | Ulrike Beuck |
| Abstract: | The paper describes the development, application and validation of a quantitative spatial model for leisure day trips from Berlin into the surrounding regions. Leisure activities can contribute substantially to the economies of rural regions like the surroundings of Berlin, but these activities are also often very sensitive to environmental quality, which is usually negatively affected by the traffic caused by the leisure travelers...A model of the spatial distribution of leisure day trips can help to develop planning and management strategies in order to reduce these potential conflicts. Existing studies estimate the number of day trips from Berlin to the region of Brandenburg at about 36 Mio per year and provide some general information on activities, mode choice and destinations. In this paper, these demand-oriented figures are combined with attraction-related datasets and mode dependent travel time information of all potential destinations in order to develop a GIS-based spatial distribution model of leisure day trips. This model is then calibrated and validated using independent datasets, e.g. traffic census data. The results produced by the model are in good accordance with the validation data and clearly show the close relationship of accessibility by different means of transport and relative attractiveness of the destinations. By combining the model output with other datasets (e.g. about overnight tourism), regions of potential can be identified. The model could easily be adopted to evaluate the effects of future infrastructure and management measures. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p293&r=geo |
| By: | J.Paul Elhorst |
| Abstract: | One of the central research questions in modelling space-time data is the right econometric model. At least three problems must be tackled: (i) The observations on each spatial unit might be correlated over time, (ii) The observations at each point in time might be correlated over space, and (iii) The omission of time-invariant and/or spatial-invariant background variables could bias the regression coefficients in a typical cross-section or time-series model. As we have no a priori reasons to believe that one problem is more important than another, this paper presents a general model that encompasses a wide series of simpler models frequently used in the time-series econometrics, spatial econometrics and panel data econometrics literature. A framework is developed to determine which model is the most likely candidate to study space-time data. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p81&r=geo |
| By: | María De Vicente y Oliva; Miguel Ángel Marcos Calvo |
| Abstract: | Nowadays the key target of Cohesion Policy is to promote the creation of conditions to improve the growth, and to increase the factors that lead to a real convergence (Economic and Social Cohesion). An important group of these factors is found when considering the competitivity of a Region that implies, (even whitout existintg a clear definition), to consider at the same time two different levels: - The first one through the specific factors to improve the development of the resident managerial weave (Innovation, Research & Development, enterprises nets, labour market, training, support in the use of new technologies, servicies to entreprises, etc.). – The second one, improving the enviromental conditions for the development of such an managerial activity (Transport and comunication infrastructures, environment and sustainable developpment ,use of renewable energies, etc.) The objetcive of the present paper is to propose an objective way to consider the totalitiy of factors simultaneously, in order to obtain a ranking of the of the regional competitivity, and to study his changes in the time. For this, it will be used the data base “REGIO” and techniques of ranking belonging to multicriteria decision making. The analyzed period is from 1987 to 2002 which shows interesting results mainly when compared with other analyses carried out. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p625&r=geo |
| By: | Peer Smets |
| Abstract: | Today there is a widespread fear of crime on a global scale. This can be seen as a response to social inequalities, social polarisation and the fragmentation of cities, which has been caused by neo-liberalism. Worldwide, an increasing number of higher income groups have looked to security measures, such as cameras, fences, walls and gates, to separate themselves from other people in the city. These physical measures, in combination with hired guards, replace the ‘older’ social control mechanisms, which are based on social cohesion within the community concerned. One may question whether those living in gated ‘communities’ indeed feel responsible for other urbanites. In other words, will such a hard closure (physically-marked segregation) lead to soft closure, reflected in social-cultural and political segregation. What is the impact of the lifestyle(s) of those living in gated communities on the dynamics of the city, urban identity and urban governance? |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p403&r=geo |
| By: | Tüzin Baycan-Levent; Aliye Ahu Gulumser |
| Abstract: | Gated housing areas have increasingly become a profitable segment in the real estate market as well as a new marketing angle for developers to meet the demand for security, status/prestige, and lifestyle. The development patterns of gated communities in many countries show that developers recognize the opportunity to sell safety and security to a niche market. Against this background, the aim of this paper is to investigate the development process of gated communities in a metropolitan city, Istanbul, from the perspective of developers. The data and information used for evaluation are based on the extensive survey questionnaires filled out by developers of gated communities. A “logistic regression method” is deployed to identify the most important factors on approaches and behaviors of developers. Therefore, the motivating factors both in the decision-making and production-marketing process of developers are evaluated. This evaluation enables us to highlight the characteristics of the real estate market. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p782&r=geo |
| By: | Urban Gråsjö |
| Abstract: | The main purpose in this paper is to study to what extent accessibility to R&D and human capital can explain patent production. Therefore a knowledge production function is estimated both on aggregated level and for different industrial sectors. The output of the knowledge production is the number patent applications in Swedish municipalities from 1994 to 1999. In order to account for the importance of proximity, the explanatory variables are expressed as accessibilities to R&D (university and company) and to human capital (people with a bachelor’s degree and above). The total accessibility is then decomposed into local, intra-regional and inter-regional accessibilities. Preliminary findings indicate that the effects are very local, i.e. it is primarily the R&D conducted within the municipality that explains the number of patent applications produced in the municipality. The results also indicate that investments in company R&D have a greater impact on the innovative capacity than university R&D. Furthermore, there is evidence of large scale effects, implying a policy that favour concentrated investments in R&D instead of the dominating trend in Sweden of increased number of localisations/municipalities conducting university R&D. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p205&r=geo |
| By: | Gabriela Dragan |
| Abstract: | The paper intends to explain the relevance of the acquis communautaire on state aid in the context of Romanian regional policy-making. EU state aid regulations impose a number of restrictions on regional aid spending, which in their combination are intended to concentrate and modulate overall spending within priority areas. The paper reviews the Romanian legal, institutional and procedural frameworks on state aids and briefly analyses the main financial support schemes designed by the Romanian authorities to support regional development. The information presented in this paper are based on a more exhaustive research project which I coordinated in the framework of a Phare Project (see: Gabriela Dragan (coordinator), Isabela Atanasiu, “Romanian special development zones and EU state aid policy”, Pre-Accession Impact Studies, European Institute of Romania, www.ier.ro/studiiimpact.html) |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p153&r=geo |
| By: | Andrea Bonaccorsi; Lucia Piscitello; Cristina Rossi |
| Abstract: | The notion that Information and Communication Technology would have reduced the economic importance of geographic distance has been proposed with energy in the post-Internet literature (Cairncross, 2001). According to this view, the New Economy would work in a space rather than a place, cost of transport would be drastically reduced, distance would be less important, and peripheral regions would benefit from opportunities that were not available in the economy based on manufacturing industry (Negroponte, 1995; Cairncross, 1997; Kelly, 1998; Compaine, 2001). Since ICT are mostly based on immaterial and human capital investment, regions or areas that have historically suffered from isolation, large cost of transportation, or lack of physical private and public infrastructure might find new paths for growth. Consequently, according to this view, the concentration of income opportunities and wealth should decrease over time. Although other predictions were also present in the debate over the impact of the digital economy (e.g. Norris, 2001; UNDP; 2001), this view was largely dominant. The reality is not so rosy. Not only there are huge disparities in the intensity with which ICT are adopted and used across countries, but also there are still large differences within industrialized countries. Indeed, differences in economic development still shape the rate of the adoption of these technologies, at the firm, regional and country level. The reasons behind these stylized facts have been investigated at length in recent times. This paper contributes to the literature in several ways. First, it focuses on intra-national or regional differences, which is a much less explored dimension of the digital divide. Second, it uses a new metric for the adoption of ICT, namely the number of second level Internet domain names, registered under the ccTLD “.it.”. Finally, it explicitly combines the analysis of determinants with a spatial econometric approach. Thanks to the availability of panel data for both the dependent and the explanatory variables (time period: 1990-2001), spatial and temporal effect are simultaneously taken into account. Panel data techniques that account for temporal correlations are in widespread use while there have been a variety of studies accounting for spatial autocorrelation (see for instance Coughlin et al. 2003; Dubin, 1992; McMillan, 2004). However one of the major drawbacks to many analyses is that they fail to integrate the spatial and temporal correlations that are present in geographical systems (Elhorst, 2003). |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p92&r=geo |
| By: | Paul Cheshire; Stefano Magrini |
| Abstract: | This paper analyses the factors driving convergence and divergence processes in the growth dynamics of European urban regions over the period 1978 to 1994. To achieve this, we develop a two-stage procedure. First, viewing growth of real GDP per capita as a multivariate process, a fully specified growth model is estimated assessing growth dynamics and the role of a rich set of variables. In particular, as noted elsewhere (Cheshire and Magrini, 2005), evidence is found which is supportive of a spatial adaptation of the endogenous growth model, with human capital related variables having a highly significant role in explaining growth differences. The second stage then uses a ‘distribution dynamics’ approach to evaluate the contribution of individual growth factors to convergence dynamics. More specifically, regression results are used to simulate alternative end period incomes which, via the estimation of stochastic kernels, enable us to isolate the role of selected variables in shaping the dynamics of the cross-sectional distribution of per capita income. This analysis suggests that the most important factor determining the form of FUR growth and convergence dynamics observed from 1978 to 1994 was the differing distribution of human capital. These results are compared with the results using the Markov Chain approach and it is found both techniques lead to similar conclusions. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p749&r=geo |
| By: | Falko Juessen; Christian Bayer |
| Abstract: | Differences in regional unemployment rates are often used to describe regional economic inequality. This paper asks whether changes in regional unemployment differences in West Germany are persistent over time. Only if such changes are persistent, the differences are a sensible measure of inequality and only then can policies be effective that aim at lowering the dispersion of unemployment rates. Our analysis follows a time-series approach to economic convergence and we test whether unemployment differences between regions are stationary or not. While univariate tests show that changes in unemployment differences are persistent, more powerful panel tests find them to be only transitory. However, these tests reveal only a moderate speed of convergence. Since there is a structural break following the second oil crisis, we also employ unit-root tests that allow for such break. Again we find strong evidence for convergence and now also the speed of convergence is found to be very high. Both results, the presence of regime-wise conditional convergence in regional unemployment rates and fast equilibrium adjustment, have important implications for economic policy targeted at regional unemployment. On the one hand, small government interventions loose their effect quickly as unemployment rates adjust back to their equilibrium levels. On the other hand, large interventions might move the economy from one equilibrium of regional unemployment rates to the other. This means the policy intervention needs to take the form of a substantial regime shift. Most policies that aim at reducing relative unemployment differentials are unlikely to make permanent contributions to social welfare. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p410&r=geo |
| By: | Esteban Fernández; Bart Los; Carmen Carvajal |
| Abstract: | Shift-Share analysis is a well-known methodology frequently used to obtain insights into the determinants of regional growth processes. It can address many issues, such as output growth, employment growth and productivity growth. After the initial equation proposed by Dunn (1960), several extensions have been suggested in order to overcome some conceptual problems. One of the most important undesirable properties that have been mentioned is the so-called “non-uniqueness” of the results. That is, numerous decomposition forms are equivalent to the classical shift-share equation from a theoretical point of view, but the results often depend strongly on the choice of a specific one. In this paper, we propose a methodology based on maximum entropy econometrics to incorporate additional information to select the unique shift-share formula that fits this information best. We illustrate the method empirically by investigating the sources of change of employment growth in Spanish regions, 1986-2000. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p465&r=geo |
| By: | Juan Peña; Andreu Bonet; Juan Bellot; Juan Rafael Sánchez |
| Abstract: | The analysis of changes in land cover and land use over time as sources of information and geographical diagnosis at a regional scale, is primary to improving knowledge of land cover and land use modelling in Mediterranean environments. The study area is located in the Marina Baixa (MB) county and catchment (680 km2; Alicante, Spain). It comprises 18 municipalities which for the period under study present a landscape mosaic, Benidorm is the capital city of the county. In its turn, this region has undergone great socio-economic changes over recent decades, which can be attributed to tourism development and agricultural intensification. The main driving forces of landscape change are economic and social (tourism development, agriculture) but urban planning is also a key element to take into account in the land use model. The main change attractors can be described as coastal proximity and water availability factors, that are responsible for the transformation from traditional land uses to new land uses with higher water demand and sea-shore zones highly urbanized. Analysis of aerial photographs for the years 1956, 1978 and 2000 in MB revealed an increment of artificial surfaces mostly near the shoreline; an augment of irrigated crops surface; and a significant decline in traditional dry crops due to the abandonment because of their low productivity, therefore it is a growth of natural areas. We have studied the evolution of land cover and land use in MB catchment through time (1956-1978-2000). However, in this study we test the hypothesis that landscape changes in Marina Baixa in 2000 could be predicted from 1956-1978 land use changes. In order to generate land use and land cover map of 2000, we use a combined Cellular Automata, Markov Chain and Multi-Criteria land cover prediction procedure. The application of multiple models is powerful to represent the spatial contiguity as well as knowledge of the likely spatial distribution of transitions to Markov chain analysis. The span between two studied periods is 22 years. The goal is to calibrate the model to predict, as well as possible, the land use changes in 2000, with the purpose to predict the long-term changes beyond. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p713&r=geo |
| By: | Nick Bogiazides; Eftychia Kotsiou; Manos Vougioukas |
| Abstract: | Dotted across Europe can be found a large number of heritage railways and museums, the remnants of former elaborate railway networks bypassed by industrial and economic change. In the past, upon such railways depended industrial development and the economy’s secondary sector. Today, having lost their primary transportation function, they represent for many a remote area a key tourist attraction, the mainstay of the local tertiary sector. Most lie in regions that have undergone significant change in their productive profile, with wide de-industrialisation and its concomitant population loss explaining the original network’s demise. As they are visited by a total of around 20 million people a year, almost twice the annual visitor intake of Disneyland Paris, they merit some attention in terms of their impact on regional development.This paper attempts to present a methodology for assessing the quantifiable impacts of heritage railways and museums on local economies and the findings of a research project in which it has been applied and tested. Issues, such as investment on the railway and in allied sectors, income and employment generation, the dissemination and (often) re-appropriation by local communities of traditional skills, the social function of heritage railways as providers of state-assisted youth training scheme job opportunities, etc., are examined in the light of their repercussions on regional development. It also endeavours to gauge the significance of non-quantifiable elements, such as the sense of pride accruing to a local community in touch with the relics of its industrial and transport past, the advantageous ‘local distinctiveness’ characterising localities possessing a heritage railway, and perhaps, for some, the mystique of old trains, the symbolic power of steam, still mesmerising ‘The Railway Children’. The paper shows that heritage railways can perform most potently in their role as tourist attraction if their offer to visitors is combined with that of other local tourist assets, such as industrial archaeology sites, natural beauty spots, etc., in the provision of an integrated visitor package. Their immersion in communities, both as local heritage and present-day specialist, traditional skills, employer, further ensures the sustainable character of their contribution to regional development. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p407&r=geo |
| By: | James Giesecke; John Madden |
| Abstract: | In recent years many universities have commissioned studies of the effect of their institution on the local economy. Typically these impact studies have concentrated on the demand-side stimuli to the regional economy that the university generates. Normally, the studies are undertaken with comparative-static input-output models. The present study employs a dynamic multiregional computable general equilibrium model to investigate supply-side as well as demand-side effects. There are a range of supply-side effects that have been investigated in the spatial econometrics literature. The supply-side impacts of the university that we examine in particular are a rise in the average skill level of the local workforce, and successful R&D outcomes. CGE modelling allows simulation of the associated productivity effects, while the dynamic features of the model allow for consequent effects on the region's population and capital stock growth rates to be taken into account. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p436&r=geo |
| By: | Marjolein Spaans |
| Abstract: | Several European countries are adapting their planning system to current requirements of public and private sector and society. Examples of such countries are England and the Netherlands. The paper start with an overview of theoretical concepts of planning systems in relation to spatial planning. We then focus on the proposed and recent changes in the English and Dutch planning systems. What are the main objectives for the changes and how are they elaborated in planning instruments, procedures and institutional framework? The paper concludes with relating the changes in the two presented planning systems to the theoretical concepts op planning systems. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p235&r=geo |
| By: | Aikaterini Kokkinou; Yannis Psycharis |
| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to analyse the relationship between the inward Foreign Direct Investment in South-eastern European countries in relation with the factors which determine the ability of a country to attract foreign investment capital. The paper begins with the definition of the main terms related with Foreign Direct Investment and literature review related with the factors which determine the regional allocation of the FDI flows. Specifically, the article focuses on the definition of the Foreign Direct Investment flows, regional attractiveness, location of FDI, as well as the factors which affect the location of FDI activities within and across countries and regions. Then, the article presents a comparative analysis of the relative position of the South-eastern European countries, as far as FDI is concerned. Moreover, the paper attempts, through a model specification and results analysis to estimate the relationship between FDI and a selection of potential determining factors. The analysis is made for thirteen South-eastern European countries covering a period of twelve years. The paper is completed with reference to prospects regarding the implementation and planning of an effective FDI attraction policy aiming at economic development and cohesion. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p382&r=geo |
| By: | Wouter Vermeulen |
| Abstract: | This paper explores regional unemployment and participation data that distinguish gender, age and educational attainment. We observe a panel of 40 Dutch regions over the period 1992 - 2003. Issues such as the national component in regional labour market developments, the role of the labour force composition and persistence of unemployment and participation differentials are considered. A dominance of national unemployment and participation on regional outcomes is found, suggesting a modest regional component to labour market dynamics in the Netherlands. Composition of the potential labour force does not fully account for the remaining differences however. There exists a regional component to unemployment for lower educated, for example. We find that persistence of regional unemployment and participation differentials may be explained to some extent by persistence of regional differences in labour force composition. Persistence of these differentials is strong for lower educated but almost absent for higher educated persons, suggesting that the labour market for the higher educated clears at the national rather than the regional level. Finally, we investigate the effect of unemployment on labour participation. Unlike other recent evidence, our results yield little support for a “discouraged worker effect”. For all population groups, the relationship is statistically insignificant when we control for time-invariant and region-invariant heterogeneity. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p207&r=geo |
| By: | Raffaello Bronzini; Paolo Piselli |
| Abstract: | In this paper we estimate the long-run relationship between total factor productivity, R&D capital stock and human capital in the Italian regions between 1980 and 2001. We exploit recent developments of panel cointegration techniques to estimate the cointegration relationship, allowing for endogeneity and heterogeneity of regional cointegration vectors. The evidence shows that there exists a long-run equilibrium among the variables and that human capital elasticity is larger than R&D elasticity. Conditioned on the long-run equilibrium, we set out an Error Correction Model of TFP growth. In this framework, we test for exogeneity of TFP determinants, by carrying out Granger-causality tests. Our findings show that human capital is exogenously generated out of the model, while TFP and R&D are simultaneously determined. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p267&r=geo |
| By: | Dik Leering; Andries Hans De Jong |
| Abstract: | The Netherlands has a rather long history of developing models in the field of regional forecasts. Among othter things, these forecasts are used as an instrument for planning of house-building. In 2004 Statistics Netherlands and the Spatial Planning Bureau started with the development of a new model, called PEARL (which stands for 'Population Extrapolations At Regional Level'). It is an integrated model for the forecast of the population (by ethnic group) and households. PEARL will be used to regionalize the official forecasts of population (by ethnic group) and households at the national level, which are compiled by Statistics Netherlands. The lowest level of the regional forecasts will be the municipal level, which permits the aggregation to larger NUTS regions, such as 'COROP' and 'province'. The forecast-horizon of the regional forecasts will be 15 to 20 years, although computations for a longer period are possible. An important objective of PEARL is to be considered as the official regional forecast, from 2007 onwards. Assumptions on demographic (growth) components (fertility, mortality, internal and external migration) and transition rates (with respect to the life course) will be formulated at the municipal level. These assumptions are used as input for PEARL. In this way transparency of the outcomes of the model is promoted. In order to achieve consistency between population and households, PEARL consists of both a macro- and a micro-layer. At the macro-layer (the municipal level) the assumptions are applied, while in the micro-layer (individual level) the resulting events are administrated. In this way the micro-layer consists of approximately 16 million persons and approximately 7 million households. In switching between the macro- and the micro-layer PEARL distinguishes itself from more conventional models. The primary goal is to use PEARL as a (robust) instrument for forecasting. However, it may also be used as a tool for compiling scenarios. This can be done at the macro level (by formulating alternative assumptions at the municipal level), but also at the micro level (by using alternative figures on risks). In the last application PEARL is used as a micro-simulation model. The software program PEARL is written in Delphi-5. The intention is to publish first outcomes (with a limited scope) in the second half of 2005 |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p420&r=geo |
| By: | Wouter Blomme; Tine Boucké; Carl Devos; Sofie Staelraeve; Tom Verstraete |
| Abstract: | In our paper, we deal with the dynamic and consequences of the federal structure and the dual party system for the policy capacities of Flanders, one of the three regions in the Belgian federal state. Since 1993, the Belgian constitution officially states that Belgium is a federal state. The process of state reform began in 1970, after the birth of linguistic parties in the sixties. One of the main characteristics of the Belgian party system is the absence of Belgian political parties and the asymmetry of the regional party systems. The specific functioning of political parties in ‘Belgium’, in other words in its regions, has some important consequences for the scope for policymaking of those regions. The differences between the regional party systems are the product of the region-specific social and economical features. In spite of the unequal economic performance of the two main regions, the ‘high speed’ North and ‘slow speed’ South, and the different economic challenges and possibilities, the Belgian federal level still retains several of the main economic competences and instruments. Therefore, the regionalised parties must, on the one hand, work together while, on the other hand, need to fight each other because of limited (federal) resources. We will consider the consequences of the elasticity and duality of the party system: does it enable or impede regional policy making, such as the switch of the unequal regional economies to a ‘new economy’? |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p87&r=geo |
| By: | Sanna-Mari Hynninen |
| Abstract: | This study examines the matching aspects of local labour markets focusing on the status of job seekers in the matching process, on spatial autocorrelation in labour market conditions of local labour markets, and on differences in matching processes between areas with permanently deviating unemployment rates. The data set is temporally, spatially, and by labour market positions of job seekers highly disaggregate monthly data from 171 Local Labour Offices (LLOs) in Finland over 12 years. According to the results, an increase in the share of long-term unemployed job seekers decreases matches, and an increase in the share of job seekers out of labour force increases successful matches in local labour markets. The matching process does not work in the same way in all areas, but on the contrary its functioning is dependent on the unemployment conditions. Effects of increases in the number of inputs on successful matches depend on the proportional share of that input in the area as well as on the composition of the stock of job seekers. The results also indicate the labour market conditions and matching processes across neighbouring LLOs being spatially autocorrelated. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p499&r=geo |
| By: | Enrica Papa |
| Abstract: | The paper proposes an interpretation of the physical and functional transformations, as consequences of a new metro system construction in a metropolitan area. In particolar the research, which is part of the PhD thesis work, is focused on the analysis, finalized to the transformations management, of the activities and the spaces autorganizzazione phenomena in the new metro station areas. The paper describes the approach, the research methodology utilized and the application testing in the Naples Council where a new railway network has been developed. The first results provide a methodology for the interpretation of the impacts of the new station on the urban system and a GIS decision support tools for the managment of the urban system transformation process. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p111&r=geo |
| By: | Alberto Dalmazzo; Guido De Blasio |
| Abstract: | Recent literature has aimed at evaluating human capital externalities by estimating the effect of human capital on wages at urban level. We argue that this methodology might not identify properly human capital spillovers. We consider a general equilibrium model based on Roback (1982) where both wages and rents are simultaneously determined at the local level. We show that human capital externalities cannot be identified unless the joint effect of local human capital on both wages and rents is considered. Empirically, we study the effects of local human capital on household-level rents and individual-level wages for a sample of Italian local labor markets. Our results show a positive and robust effect of local human capital on rents. This unambiguously demonstrates that the concentration of human capital at the local level generates positive externalities. As for the relative importance of consumption and production externalities, our results suggest that the two effects have a similar impact on wages. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p628&r=geo |
| By: | Aliza Fleischer; Yacov Tsur |
| Abstract: | In this paper we study agricultural-urban land allocation in light of the rising amenity value of agricultural landscape. A given land area is to be allocated between a number of agricultural activities (crops) and urban use. Each activity (crop) area generates private benefits (profit from agricultural produce) and amenity benefits (open space, aesthetic landscape, hiking trails). Land allocated for housing provides only private benefits. Land markets overlook the social (environmental) role of agricultural land and as a result lead to undersupply of farmland. In an empirical study of an Israeli case, we find the undersupply of farmland and the associated deadweight loss to be substantial. Investigating effects of population and income growth processes, we find that, contrary to market outcomes, the socially optimal allocation may call for more farmland preservation under either process. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p55&r=geo |
| By: | Helge Sanner |
| Abstract: | This study examines in which cases economic forces or historical singularities prevail in the determination of the spatial distribution of retail shops. We develop a relatively general model of location choice in discrete space. The main force towards an agglomerated structure is the reduction of transaction costs for consumers if retailers are located closely, whilst competition and transport costs work towards a disperse structure. We assess the importance of the initial conditions by simulating the resulting distribution of shops for identical economic parameters but varying initial settings. If the equilibrium distributions are similar we conclude that economic forces have prevailed, while dissimilarity indicates that 'history' is more important. The (dis)similarity of distributions of shops is calculated by means of a metric measure. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p175&r=geo |
| By: | Ludo Peeters; Coro Chasco-Yrigoyen |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we compare the results obtained by the application of three alternative methods of ecological inference. The data is on per capita household disposable income in the 50 provinces and 78 municipalities of Asturias, Spain. The first method is based on Ordinary Least Squares regression model, which assumes constancy or homogeneity. The second method is based on a spatial autocorrelation model, which assumes heterogeneity in two spatial regimes. The third method is based on a varying-coefficients model, which assumes total heterogeneity. The second model is estimated by Maximum Likelihood, whereas the latter is estimated by using Generalized Maximum or Cross Entropy. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p705&r=geo |
| By: | Cihan Ahmet Tutluoðlu; Vedia Dokmeci |
| Abstract: | Inspired by the gravitational attraction of the masses in Physics, the gravitational pull between the settlements has been proven to be an important phenomenon in explaining potentials that arise among towns. Again inspired by the Electro-magnetic fields in Physics, in this paper, the gravitational attraction between the cities is assumed to be exerted on a city with a certain “charge” on a map of superimposing “charges” of different cities. Following this line, an attraction field has been presented for different census years on city basis in Turkey and possible implications have been evaluated. The values for the year 2000 on the other hand have been tested with other factors including the GNP per head, population and the literacy rate to see the impact of these forces on the tendencies to move in and out of the cities, that is the migrationary effects. The study is as well done seperating the country into a West and an East to see if there are striking differences in between. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p340&r=geo |
| By: | M. Oguz Sinemillioglu; Can Tuncay Akýn; Havva Özyýlmaz |
| Abstract: | The aim of this study is to analyze changings in housing demand, especially in term of house size in Diyarbakýr case, in Turkey. Though Housing in Turkey is in a free market system, there is a Mass Housing Administration (TOKÝ) has been doing mass houses for, relatively, middle class income people. Diyarbakýr, one of the cities that TOKÝ has done two thousand houses, has taken too much migration, so that the demand in housing form and structure has different alterations. This process should be under control not only for the economy but also for sustainable housing environment and for sustainable urbanism. Immigration from rural areas to cities for better living conditions has started with urbanization and resulted with overpopulation in the cities of Turkey. Mass housing fact is formed in order to satisfy shortage of housing. The quantity as well as the quality of housing has reached seriously to a high degree. There are many slums in Diyarbakýr which has density of wraped urbanization. Since 1994, Mass Houing Management has started new projects to prevent such an unhealthy settlement being consructed and to supply more houses for the homeless Iiving in the town. In this work, inhabitants in different settlements wiil be questioned to identify their economic, social and spatial needs comparing with mass housing. Besides, comparison between the people’s preferences on housing those don’t live never in mass housing and the people’s desire alterations those live in mass housing by investigation of their settlement process will be done. The level of coorelation between the function and house size will be examined for decreasing the housing ownership process and cost. The proposals about sustainable housing environment will be given. Such research is considered to be helpful for future house planing in Turkey’s cities like Diyarbakýr. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p547&r=geo |
| By: | Beniamino Murgante; Giuseppe Las Casas; Anna Sansone |
| Abstract: | The distinction among urban, peri-urban and rural areas inside a territory represents a classical example of uncertainty in land classification. The transition among the three classes is not much clear and can be described with Sorites Paradox, considering the residential buildings and the settlements. Peri-urban fringe can be considered as a transition zone between urban and rural areas, as an area with its own intrinsic organic rules, as a built area without formal organisation or as an abandoned rural area contiguous to urban centres. In any case, concepts as density of buildings, services and infrastructures or the degree of rural, residential and industrial activities, will lead to uncertainty in defining classes, due to the uncertainty in combining some properties. One of the methods which can be utilized is the rough sets theory, which represents a different mathematical approach to uncertainty capturing the indiscernibility. The definition of a set is connected to information knowledge and perception about phenomena. Some phenomena can be classified only in the context of the information available about them. Two different phenomena can be indiscernible in some contexts and classified in the same way (Pawlak 83). The rough sets approach to data analysis hinges on two basic concepts, the lower approximation which considers all the elements that doubtlessly belong to the class, and the upper approximation which includes all the elements that possibly belong to the class. The rough sets theory furthermore takes into account only properties which are independent. This approach has been tested in the case of study of Potenza Province. This area, located in Southern Italy, is particularly suitable to the application of this theory, because it includes 100 municipalities with different number of inhabitants, quantity of services and distance from the main road infrastructures. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p456&r=geo |
| By: | Alexander Kubis |
| Abstract: | This work examines the potential connection between migration and sectoral movement. We understand interregional migration as a sustainable relocation of an individual’s center of life between two regions. Different quality levels of the boundaries between the regions of the analysed area are considered. Sectoral movement is defined as the relative variation of the regional gross value added in the primary, secondary and tertiary sector. The chosen area to analyse is the Federal Republic of Germany. For the regional classification we use the hierarchic nomenclature NUTS1, provided by the Statistical Office of the European Communities, EUROSTAT. The investigated area consists of the 16 German Federal States. Along with the spatial relationships we analyze the influence of sectoral changes on the flows of migration between these regions during the years 1995 to 2002. The theoretical description of this migration is based on the observations of L.A. SJAASTAD(1962) as well as M.P. TODARO(1969) and J.R. HARRIS / M.P. TODARO (1970), who considered migration as a result of individual decisions due to a sophisticated complex process. Migration as an individual investment in human resources raises the question about the specific costs for an emigrant’s human resources stock. When emigrating to a region, where he finds an adequate work, the emigration costs are lower. His tendency to migrate should hence be in accordance with the corresponding sectoral supply of employment. Therefore, we investigate the hypothesis, whether the tendency to migrate increases, if the sectoral gross value added of a region i rises relatively to a region j. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p66&r=geo |
| By: | Roberto Bande; Melchor Fernandez; Víctor Manuel Montuenga |
| Abstract: | The existence and persistence of regional disparities is a common problem of many European economies. However, in Spain this fact exhibits a characteristic feature: a strong positive relationship with the business cycle. The analysis in this paper investigates the relationship between this distinguishing feature of the Spanish economy with the wage bargain system, and how changes in this system may have influenced the aggregate Spanish labour market performance in the recent past. The empirical findings of an important imitation effect in wage bargainings may explain both the persistence of disparities and their positive relationship with the cycle. This result has a direct implication to employment policies, which must take into account the regional dimension of the unemployment problem. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p489&r=geo |
| By: | Michael Sonis; Maxim Shoshany; Naftali Goldschlager |
| Abstract: | The spatial redistribution of the land uses can be measured by remote sensing conventional methods in the form of the matrices of the land uses redistributions within a given set of regions in a given time period. Two new methods of analysis of such land uses redistribution matrices are proposed. The first method represent the geometric and analytical algorithm of decomposition of the land use redistribution matrix into the convex combination of the land use matrices which represents the main tendencies of land use redistributions in a given set of regions in a given time period. Thus, each empirically given land use redistribution can be presented as a superposition of the land uses redistributions connected with the optimal solutions of some extreme land use redistributions corresponding to the parsimonious behavior of land users in a given set of regions in a given time period. The second method represents the construction of the artificial land use landscape corresponding to the minimum information land use redistribution with fixed initial and final land use distributions. The comparison of the empirical land uses landscape with the artificial oner can be acheived by measurement of the entropy limitator of homogenuity of land uses redistribution. This limitator represents the spatial specifics of an actual land use redistributions connected with different parsimonious behavior of the land users themselves. As an empirical validation of these new methods the set of 10 different regions in the vicinity of Haifa Carmel area is chosen for different time intervals and the main tendencies of land use redistributions are identified together with their minimum information artificial landscapes. The new methodology and modeling approach will assist future planning in the rural-urban fringe. Optimal solutions for nature conservation and urban development conflicts can be learned through the application of these models. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p19&r=geo |
| By: | Eric Koomen; Jasper Dekkers; Mark Koetse; Piet Rietveld; Henk Scholten |
| Abstract: | The metropolitan landscape consists of green, open areas adjacent to and enclosed by the urban environment. Changes in this landscape are a delicate matter, because they affect sustainability, the environment and the scenic quality, as we see in processes like urban sprawl, intensive outdoor recreation, city expansion and additional investments in infrastructure. More precisely, changes in the supply of open space, both in absolute terms (acreage) and its accessibility are a major concern around metropolitan areas. The lack of a clear monetary value makes green, open areas vulnerable to construction activities and infrastructure. Such use of open space entails the imposition of externalities of certain actors on others, but since the market value of open space does not fully reflect the societal value of open space, these externalities are market failures that call for corrective measures by the public sector in the form of land use interventions or pricing measures. However, as it turns out, failure of the governmental correction impedes effective market co-ordination. Unfortunately, attempts to value open space are virtually non-existent to date. Partly because the valuation of severance and visual intrusion is hampered by many complications, especially difficulties in objective quantification, uncertainties on the impacts on human and ecological communities, and collinearity with other pressures on the metropolitan open space (for example noise disturbance from infrastructure). The development of a research method for the valuation of open space will therefore be an important objective of the project. Incorporation of the public interest in open space in metropolitan planning requires quantitative valuation of this asset. The difficulty with such a valuation is of course that environmental and general societal values are normally not traded on real world markets, and hence no market prices can be observed that would reflect or approximate marginal costs or benefits. An environmental-economic framework will be used to quantify the ecological, economic and societal values of open space in a coherent way. Two complementary methods will be used: revealed preference and stated preference valuation. As it will not be possible to estimate economic values for all different dimensions of open space, the program focuses on those aspects that can be related to the appreciation of individual residents of the metropolitan landscape. These are the so-called ‘use values’ that humans attach to open space on the basis of their own, direct interest. This focus means that for instance so-called ‘intrinsic’ environmental values (referring for example to habitat fragmentation and indirectly biodiversity) will be postponed to future research. The program will more specifically concentrate on the added value of the availability of open space on residential property and the valuation of cultural and recreational characteristics of open space by potential visitors. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p599&r=geo |
| By: | José Manuel Rueda-Cantuche |
| Abstract: | Perhaps, one of the most relevant issues in constructing regional input-output tables is the estimation of interregional trade flows. Hence, the Regional Statistical Office of Andalusia (Spain) is promoting new research on survey-based estimates of trade flows between the own region and the rest of Spain. Especially, survey approach has been seen to result more reliable outcomes (Eding & Nijmeijer, 1998) than non-survey constructs. This paper will focus on survey design features, sample methods, treatment of sampling and non-sampling errors and others aspects concerning data collection and processing in the case of Andalusia (Spain). |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p245&r=geo |
| By: | Dimitrios Economou; Maria Vrassida |
| Abstract: | Traditionally coastal cities had a role as trading ports or gates of entry connecting the hinterland other parts of the world or the country, and acting as points of departure or arrival for goods and people. Trade and industry, were the spine of the economy for many years and a network was created between ports and coastal cities in order to move people (workforce), goods, and materials. Tourism is a dynamic spontaneous phenomenon, which creates opportunities for many coastal cities to participate in a different network of exchange. Tourism is considered an activity that does not create networks in the traditional sense but as mobility increases information and familiarity could pose as a new kind of connection between coastal cities. This paper aims to explore the structure and dynamics of such a network at an inter-intra regional level. The focus is on coastal cities since they are very popular tourism destinations and they account for the majority of visits in Europe. Reference will be made to the Greek middle size coastal cities since many of their traditional activities are degrading, they already attract a large number of visitors and they provide the opportunity for regeneration through tourism. The paper will be based on a questionnaire survey of visitors conducted during the summer months (June-August 2003) in Volos a middle size coastal city in Greece. The questionnaire is part of a broader survey of tourism in Volos aiming to explore tourism characteristics, flows and to evaluate the tourism product of the city. This network relationship will be examined in terms of complementary and competition and the impacts on city-region relations. Finally the policy implications and the potential for expanding and planning this network in order to contribute and promote sustainable development of coastal cities will be explored. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p674&r=geo |
| By: | George Korres; Theodoros Iosifides; George Tsobanoglou |
| Abstract: | Technological change and innovation activities contribute essentially to the regional dimension and productivity growth. The technological infrastructure and innovation capabilities affect not only the regional growth, but also the whole periphery and economy as well. In the last decades, OECD /introduced some measures and indexes, concerning the Research and Development Expenditures, patents etc., that measuring the innovation activities. However, there are a lot of problems and questions regarding the measurement of innovation activities at a regional level. This paper attempts to analyze the whole framework of innovation and technological activities and in particular to examine the methodological approaches, the appropriate measurement and also the statistical indices for estimation of productivity growth. On this context, it’s also aiming to emphasize and to review the appropriate techniques, the most common methods and to analyze the particular methodological and statistical problems. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p10&r=geo |
| By: | Eliana Baici; Cinzia Mainini |
| Abstract: | The role of innovation for global competition as well as its influence upon economic growth have gradually increased the interest for this subject, both from an economic and from a political point of view. Basing on the existing literature, this paper aims at measuring and describing the innovative capability of italian regional systems, so as to improve the comprehension of this phenomenon as well as of its effects. Plenty of input, output and context conditions are considered, since the systemic nature of innovation requires a simultaneous analysis of all possible variables, actors and relationships involved. Eighty indicators are selected and used to create syntetic measures about innovation and regional economic development. Best solutions are pointed out, paying attention to their score, internal composition and sustainability. Not only the intensity but also the nature of the relationship between innovation input and output and between innovation and economic growth is studied by means of independence, cograduation and interdependence indicators, as well as through the application of regression models. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p483&r=geo |
| By: | Makoto Tsukai; Makoto Okumura |
| Abstract: | Multimodal policy between railway and airlines is of importance in providing seamless transportation service to inter-regional passengers. However, it is difficult to make coordination among the railway and airline service suppliers, especially when they are fiercely competing for the share in passenger market in the target OD. Inter-regional transportation in Japan, fierce competitions are observed between Japan Railway companies and airlines, especially after the 1990 fs deregulation of the airline entrance; the number of new air service are parallel to the conventionally profitable railway service. Regardless to railway service improvements such as speed-ups, increase of frequency and special tickets of bargain fares, the number of airline passengers has been increased in the middle to long distant regions, while railway passengers continuously decreased. Such consequence would be brought by the multimodal route which has an airline link as the trunk line, and railway links as the access or egress service, considering inter-regional passenger behaviors. In other words, the improvement of railway service of middle to long distance would simultaneously and inevitably improve the short distant railway service, which can be used as the access line to airport. This phenomenon can be called the spatial externality of railway network. Spatial externality much strongly appears in railway network, comparing to airlines. If the above consideration is valid, inter-regional transportation market would not be efficient without considering the unintended multimodal use. This study purposes to clarify the existence and effects of spatial externality of railway service from investigation of longitudinal change in inter-regional transportation service and demand in Japan. The LOS of multimodal routes are calculated by the k-th shortest path algorithm which gives alternative routes to the shortest. In order to assess the LOS for each OD, the mode choice model is estimated, and passenger utilities of ODs are calculated. The results are aggregated for each distance range of ODs, and compared the LOS improvement measured by estimated utilities with the number of passengers of railway and of airlines. Implications for regional transportation administration are finally made. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p416&r=geo |
| By: | Beckstead, Desmond; Brown, Mark |
| Abstract: | This paper describes per capita employment income disparities across provinces and across the urban-rural continuum, from larger to small cities and between cities and rural areas. Its first objective is to compare the degree of income disparities across provinces to income disparities across the urban-rural continuum. Its second objective is to determine the extent to which provincial disparities can be tied to the urban-rural composition of provinces. The paper also seeks to determine whether urban-rural disparities in per capita employment income stem from poorer labour market conditions in smaller cities and rural areas compared to large cities. |
| Keywords: | National accounts, Labour, Economic conditions, Salaries and wages |
| Date: | 2005–07–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp2e:2005012e&r=geo |
| By: | Dagmar Haase |
| Abstract: | Currently, we observe diverging processes of growth and shrinkage in European Cities. Whereas in the 80ies and 90ies partially accelerated through the crash of the socialist system mostly urban growth and suburban development occurred in European Cities, today we find a general decline of population as well as an increase of aged people (as results of the demographic change in Europe and worldwide, Cloet 2003, Lutz 2001). These processes influence land use pattern (state of the environment) and land use changes in urban areas enormously. Land use pattern reflect the current socio-economic development of an urban area and give an idea of how the urban ecosystem is influenced by man. In doing so, for instance, surface sealing reduces the filtering and remediation capacity of soils and the water retention in general as well as minimises habitat quality for wetland species. At the same time, the ecosystem(s) provide so-called ecosystem services, benefits people obtain from ecosystems: water availability, drinking water, remediation and filtering of waste, places to settle, recreation facilities in nature and others. Their quantification enables to bring the change (availability/loss) of ecosystem services into relation with effective costs (economic sphere, Farber 2002, De Groot et al. 2002). The above mentioned population decline and related shrinkage processes will have enormous consequences on the demand and availability of ecosystem services needed to sustain a high and even increasing status of quality of life for European citizens in the next future. Therefore, the predictor variables describing on the one hand shrinkage-related land use changes and on the other its effects are most important but at the same time it is still a challenge; to extract such predictor variables from a huge catalogue of urban socio-economic and environmental indicators elaborated by many studies for different landscape types and scales; to derive relevant digital and spatially explicit data as model input to calculate the effects of land use (change) and; to validate the model results at the city and the quarter level (scale) as well as to prove the response of the (gained/released) ecosystem service (environmental quality) at the city and at quarter level (closing the circle). Here, the author will give some expressive examples showing the derivation of predictor variables for modelling peri-urban growth and inner city shrinkage as well as its effects on water balance, habitat quality (urban green network) and recreational space. Of major interest is the approach of how to tackle the problem of urban shrinkage in spatially explicit land use (change) modelling (Haase et al. 2004). |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p322&r=geo |
| By: | Nicole Schäfer |
| Abstract: | Repeated demands by both the European Parliament and the EU Member States nonwithstanding, responsibility for European spatial development policy remains unclear. Spatial development on the European level is actually “treated” as a coincidental outcome of EU sector policies. No unit exists in the European Commission with which to co-ordinate the spatial effects of Community policies. It is obvious that the lack of co-ordination between Community policies causes complex problems – in regard to the effective assignment of financial subsidies as well as the goals of Community sector policies. The spatial effects of these policies do not automatically complement each other, along the line of a more balanced regional, respectively spatial, development among European Union Member States. In particular after the declaration of territorial cohesion as one of the core Community objectives in the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, co-ordination of Community policies is necessary more than ever. The European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP), adopted by the Ministers for Spatial Planning at the Potsdam Council in 1999, was a milestone in this respect. However, in terms of the co-ordination of European policies, the ESDP has had a only minor impact. Therefore, further, more ambitious steps have to be undertaken. A co-ordinating body on the European level could help to duly consider the wide spectrum of aspects of spatial development. It offers the chance to raise sectoral policies to a higher level of spatial effectiveness and serves to promote the better use of financial assistance. In contrast, a co-ordination strategy based up on the assumption of a strong commitment of the member states via voluntary co-operation is also worthy of consideration. It is urgently necessary to discuss the type of organisation, the form and content of the co-ordination of spatially relevant policies in terms of sustainable and comprehensive European spatial development and to decide on how to approach their implementation. This is especially true against the backdrop of the eastern EU expansion and its associated challenges. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p433&r=geo |
| By: | Roberto Basile; Luigi Benfratello; Davide Castellani |
| Abstract: | Foreign direct investments in Europe have grown substantially over the last decade, but Italian regions account for a very small portion of such increase. Why does Italian regions attract such a low number of foreign investors? Is it a regional or a country problem? One explanation for this pattern could be that the characteristics of Italian regions are not attractive to foreign multinationals. A different, although not alternative, explanation is that Italian regions may be ‘doomed’ by the fact that they all share common national policies and institutions (such as, tax regimes, efficiency of bureaucracy, degree of labour market regulation and effectiveness of the legal and property right protection system) which discourage foreign firms to locate their plants in Italy. This view follows a tradition of cross-country studies which have addressed the role of institutional and policy characteristics as determinants of inward FDIs. In this paper we will model the potential attractiveness of 52 NUTS1 regions in 5 EU countries in terms of their main observable characteristics and will investigate whether Italian regions attract more or less than their potential. In other words, we will ask whether a EU region with the same characteristics of an Italian region will attract a different amount of FDIs. Second, we will evaluate the impact of some national policy and institutional characteristics on the attractiveness of regions and we will assess the role of such factors in explaining the Italian specificity. Third, we will simulate the relative contribution to FDIs in Italian regions of regional and national variables. This exercise will help us assessing to what extent the low attractiveness of Italian regions is the result of specific regional characteristics or of countrywide factors. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p148&r=geo |
| By: | Isabel Mota; António Brandão |
| Abstract: | In this essay, we intend to evaluate the importance of R&D (Research and Development) activities for firms' decision about location. For that purpose, we use micro-level data for the Portuguese industrial sector and focus on the location choices made by new starting firms during 1992-2000 within 275 municipalities. We consider two samples: the first one includes the entire manufacturer sector, while the second one restricts for those industrial branches that were R&D intensive. The set of explanatory variables includes a group of technological variables, such as R&D expenditures and human capital stock, as well as other explanatory variables that account for location specific characteristics and that are traditionally stressed by urban and regional theory, such as production costs (labor costs, land costs and taxes), demand indicators and agglomeration economies (urbanization and localization economies). The model is based on the random utility maximization framework but proceeds through a Poisson regression model for panel data, due to its equivalence with the conditional logit model. Through the estimation of the model, we were able to conclude that for the entire manufacturer sector, the main determinants for location decisions were the labor and land costs and the localization and urbanization economies. However, when considering the R&D intensive sample, those traditional location determinants lose importance, whilst the technological variables, such as the R&D expenditures, become relevant. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p612&r=geo |
| By: | Joana Gonçalves |
| Abstract: | The agenda is to explain the historical evolution of land uses in small islands. First we assess the capacity of the island territory for different uses based on agronomic analysis and transform these capacities in attraction coeficients. Then we design a spatial interaction model with five different sectores which employment can be closely related with surface area. Finally we use historical data on population and main export crops in order to calibrate the model for each historical period. Therefore, based on data on the export crop and on the population it is possible to estimate the different land use of the island for all the sectors. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p258&r=geo |
| By: | Daniela Palma; Alessandro Zini |
| Abstract: | The influence of technological change on industry performances is nowadays being increasingly investigated under the broad category of "national systemic competitiveness". Moreover theoretical works have shown that the relationship between technology and economic performance not only takes different forms in different socio-economic contexts, but is also powerfully influenced by the way that innovation processes evolve over time along strongly localised patterns. The present study is focused on the evolution of trade competitiveness of the manufacturing sector in Italy over the past ten years and addresses to the role played by localised comparative advantages in shaping the model of national competitiveness. The data used in the analysis, drawn by the Enea Observatory on high tech industries, are based on trade statistics at the SITC five digit level and are spatially referenced to the Italy NUT3 regional partition. The effects of localised trade specialisation on manufacturing competitiveness are first assessed through spatial econometric tecniques. Spatial variation in the relationships found is further explored in order to give additional hints on the specific contribution of localised comparative advantages. According to major trends which have recently characterised manufacturing trade competitiveness in Italy, the analysis is expected to bring into evidence significant changes in the contribution of industrial localities to national competitiveness. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p641&r=geo |
| By: | Ninette Pilegaard; Morten Marott Larsen; Jos Van Ommeren |
| Abstract: | In this paper we study how congestion and residential moving behaviour are interrelated using a two-region job search model. We demonstrate that depending on the amount of commuting and residential moving between regions, a congestion tax may lead to both welfare losses and gains. In the analysis of optimal location of households it is often assumed that households may move residence at no costs. The model developed in this paper allows for incomplete information in the labour market combined with residential moving behaviour and positive residential moving costs. We examine welfare consequences of both homogenous and heterogeneous moving costs. Workers choose optimally between interregional commuting and residential moving to live closer to the place of work. This choice affects the external costs of commuting due to congestion. Therefore, road pricing (or congestion taxes) may not only reduce congestion but also increase total residential moving costs in the economy. One of the main consequences is that the road tax does not necessarily increase welfare. In some cases, the assumption of moving costs (homogenous or heterogeneous) has implications for the interpretation of the results. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p520&r=geo |
| By: | Tomi Tura; Vesa Harmaakorpi |
| Abstract: | Regional innovation environment has experienced remarkable changes in the recent decades. Innovativeness at regional level is seen as a consequence of networked co-operation in a regional innovation system, which sets demands for new kinds of regional innovation policy applications. The current article presents network-facilitating innovation policy (NFIP) as a policy tool for promoting regional innovative capability. The new policies are crying out for new means for evaluating changes in regional innovation systems. There have been some interesting efforts to develop adequate measures for regional innovativeness. However, there are several problems with the existing measures. There seems to be a lack of clear distinction between innovation performance and innovative capability, and a corresponding neglect of the latter. Moreover, it is argued that the existing measures undermine the processual nature of innovativeness as well as the importance of non-technological innovations. The present article tries to overcome some of these problems in the context of network-facilitating innovation policy. It outlines the framework of network-based innovative capability (NBIC) measure at a regional level. The article also presents the first experiences of applying NBIC measure in the Lahti region in Finland. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p680&r=geo |
| By: | Paul Metzemakers; Erik Louw |
| Abstract: | To justify industrial land development, municipal planning officials frequently use the argument that unrestricted availability of business sites will foster economic development and employment growth. However, to date convincing evidence to support this claim does not exist. So empirical research into this subject is warranted. Furthermore, this relationship implicitly assumes that the acreage of land, necessary for firms to be able to conduct their business, is a production factor like labour and capital. Unfortunately, research on land use from this perspective has since long disappeared from mainstream economic theory. Ample research is done on land use in relation to firm location, both empirically and theoretically. However, the amount of land as a production factor for firms is generally disregarded. This lack of theory may hinder research into the claim made by planning officials. Therefore, present paper seeks to reintroduce land as a production factor in economic theory. In this article we explore to what extent land can be regarded as a production factor. We aim to integrate this view into established economic models from urban land economics and real estate theory. We do so at the macro and at the micro economic level. At the macro level, the available amount of industrial land could be a factor in national economic growth, just like growth of the labour force. At the micro level we consider whether the theory of individual firms’ production function is able to incorporate the amount of land as production factor. We commence this paper with a historical overview of the treatment of land in economic theory, before we pursue a theoretical framework that incorporates land as a factor of production. The paper concludes with a comparison between land and the established production factors labour and capital. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p220&r=geo |
| By: | Vittorio Ruggiero; Luigi Scrofani |
| Abstract: | The Italian new law (n.135/2001) about the re-organization of touristic activities of Regions has contributed to re-think all the resources related to touristic valorisation in a systemic view point. In fact according to the new approach, the Local Touristic System (STL in Italian law) regards not only the naturalistic and the cultural resources and the hotels but also the economic and services activities that can related to tourism. Although Sicilian Region has not instituted its official STL, in our paper we will try to define the STL in Sicily in a particular point of view. In fact we will consider not only the touristic areas but also the areas less developed, because the systemic approach allows us to use the touristic activities as a factor of territorial re-balance instead of territorial polarization. We also will consider the principal touristic port related to the STL, according the point of view of an integration among ports and its surrounding areas. So the ports become a door to the inner areas full of naturalistic and cultural resources. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p304&r=geo |
| By: | Funda Yirmibesoglu |
| Abstract: | Due to migration and rapidly increasing urban population settlement in urban land, lacking any planning or infrastructure, in addition to the destruction of the 17th August 1999 earthquake, it is necessary to examine uncertainty of housing demand and supply in Istanbul. After the 17th August earthquake, Istanbul has been adversely affected economically and socially. Significant differentiation in urban housing demand and supply has been observed. In the paper, this differentiation will be scrutinized for the 1995-2005 period before the earthquake, and the period after the earthquake until present. The distribution of real estate agencies will be examined with the help of GIS and the changes in the real estate market with questionnaires. The purpose of the research is to analyse; Housing production in the housing market in Istanbul; Differentiation of housing demand and supply; Distribution of real estate agencies; Differentiation of housing value and land value in neighbourhoods before and after the earthquake. The study provides an insight into the housing and real estate market in Istanbul, results and proposals of which will be presented. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p562&r=geo |
| By: | Kirsi Mukkala |
| Abstract: | The economic development and technological progress of a region are highly dependent on the accumulation and diffusion of knowledge. There are numerous channels through which knowledge might be transmitted. In this study, it is assumed that regional mobility of highly educated and innovative intensive workers between firms, organisations or institutions secures the diffusion and circulation of the knowledge. Hence, this analysis will concentrate on the regional job flows of individuals working in the high technology sector. The main topics of interest are: (1) to analyse the personal and household characteristics of the typical highly educated migrants within high technology sector, and (2) to evaluate the rate of labour turnover in different sub-sectors and regions. The empirical analysis of the paper is based on data from the Finnish Longitudinal Census File. Methodologically, the worker flows between regions are modelled by the maximum likelihood estimation which employs cross-sectional binary logit model, based on logistic distribution. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p279&r=geo |
| By: | Tom Kauko; Roland Goetgeluk |
| Abstract: | In this work the idea is to analyse general spatially identifiable housing market related data on Dutch districts (wijken) with the SOM (Kohonen Map) and a GIS. One of the authors has earlier carried out purely visual SOM analysis of that data, where patterns formed on a larger ‘map’ (the output matrix of the SOM) were used as a basis for classification of the Dutch housing market segments on a nationwide level. This way the SOM was used as a method for exploratory data analysis. Now we attempt a more rigorous method of determining the segmentation using a smaller ‘map’ size, in order to be able to export the SOM-output directly to a GIS-system to analyse it further. Two technical issues interest us: one, the robustness of the results – do the five basic housing market segments found in the earlier analysis prevail (we call these urban, urban periphery, pseudo-rural, traditional, and low-income segments); and two, which classes fit the real situation better and which worse, when using the RMSE for a measure of goodness? We also keep an eye on policy implications and aim at comparing our classifications with the ‘actual’ ones used in official discourse. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p91&r=geo |
| By: | Maria Manuela Natário; Paulo Alexandre Neto |
| Abstract: | The competitiveness of regions it is strong linked with innovation dynamics. This dynamics requires the involvement of different actors of the territory, namely, the set of actors with capacity and power to influence the territorial activities: the governance system. Thus, the vigorous attitude and participation of the firms and of institutional associative actors on innovation pressure the innovative performance of the territory. Hence, the aim of this paper is analyse the process of innovation in a transterritorial view and illustrate a perspective of innovation that reflect the better performance innovative of the territory depends of different characteristics of the milieu and evaluate the important conditions for dynamics of innovation. We use the results of survey applied to a vast set of firms and institutional/associative actors for distinguish profiles of involvement in innovation activities and for analyse and perceive which attributes or variables of territory are related with the best performance on innovation. The study looks at five sub regions of the transborder region of central region Portuguese and Spanish: Raia Central Ibérica (three Portuguese and two Spanish). |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p353&r=geo |
| By: | Otto Raspe; Frank Van Oort; Lambert Van der Laan |
| Abstract: | The strong emergence of ICT in the past decades was accompanied by much research on the potential productivity boosting qualities of ICT: high productivity growth was expected. However, empirical evidence on the productivity impact of ICT stayed behind: the Solow paradox. Since then analytical steps were made by using alternative indicators for both ICT adoption and productivity and including longer time periods, distinctions in types of economic activities and adding micro level and firm specific characteristics like size, age, and intensity of innovation. Moreover, ICT was linked to network relations including externalities. These adaptations led to outcomes in favour of a positive relation between the use of ICT and productivity. However, most convincing in this debate was the finding that the effects of ICT on economic performance should be analysed from a perspective which, besides ICT, includes changes in knowledge and organisations. Knowledge is defined here broadly and includes both codified and tacit knowledge. In this paper we focus on the trinity ‘ICT, knowledge and organization’ and add the regional dimension to this. Based on economic literature our hypothesis is that regions where firms increasingly use ICT show a stronger growth of added value and productivity. This positive relationship is, however, co-determined by changes in the broadly defined knowledge level. The use of ICT by firms is analysed at different levels of urbanism in the Netherlands. Most central is the distinction between the metropolitan Randstad, the intermediate zone and the national periphery. By this regional distinction the debate on the centrifugal and centripetal effects of ICT (the death of distance) is included. The empirical measurement as such is based on the low spatial scale of 496 municipalities. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p129&r=geo |
| By: | Raffael Argiolu; Ilona Bos |
| Abstract: | The development of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) has taken a leap in the past decade. Under strong influence of improved Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industries, automotive suppliers and scientific institutes have put much effort on developing a range of ICT based applications for vehicles to drive safer, more comfortable, to make more efficient use of current and future infrastructure and to manage fleets more accurately. These improvements in transport services might improve the attractiveness of nearby locations. These locations (office, residential, leisure zones etcetera), might attract more activity as they appear to benefit from increased accessibility. Therefore, the expectation that ITS concepts will, in the long term, have significant spatial effect on the location pattern of, in particular, office keeping organisations, is plausible. This paper focuses on the impact of ITS concepts on location preferences of office keeping organisations. To measure this impact a stated preference experiment has been conducted in the Netherlands and involves office keeping organisations in selected city regions. The paper describes the first results of a model describing the attractiveness of location profiles, which are based on location preference attributes, and the role of ITS in these profiles. Three ITS concepts, which are selected and based on previous research are introduced as ‘new’ attributes within the location profiles. The estimated model was used to test two hypotheses. The first hypothesis is that the introduction of these ITS attributes will change the preferences of office keeping organisations regarding locations. The second hypothesis is that if preferences will change, the ITS attributes have a significant contribution to the preference model; at least for some categories of organisations. Further, the paper describes in what cases we should accept or reject these hypotheses. Finally, some conclusions are drawn on the role of ITS in location attractiveness and the validation tools which are available to validate the preference model. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p545&r=geo |
| By: | Dominique Peeters; Isabelle Thomas |
| Abstract: | This paper aims at showing how far the shape of a studied area influences the results of optimal location-allocation models. Simulations are performed on rectangular toy-networks with an equal number of vertices but with different length/width ratios. The case of merging two such networks into a common market is also considered. We limit our experience to the Simple Plant Location Problem (SPLP) which captures the fundamental trade-off of economic geography between accessibility and economies-of-scales. Results are analysed in terms of locations, allocations and costs. The results help at understanding how far an area (country/region) has larger development problems than others just because of its shape and/or of the way this area is linked within a common market (elongation of the country and length of the common border). Several real world examples are discussed when interpreting of the results. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p56&r=geo |
| By: | Lasse Sigbjørn Stambøl |
| Abstract: | Efficient matching of local demand and supply of labour at different qualification levels is considered to be an important prerequisite for economic growth in every region. The expectation is that higher mobility of the labour force should increase the general level of employment, e.g. due to a relatively high gross demand of labour and the problems of matching-time to fill in the vacancies. Moreover, increased total labour mobility is thus seen as one tool for reaching the goals of the labour market policy, employing as large as possible part of the labour force into ordinary employment. Use of annual gross-flow labour market statistics may be very relevant in such analyses, allowing multidimensional analysis of labour market mobility, i.e. in geographical terms as well as between sectors and according to the qualifications of the labour force. Among the sectors, knowledge intensive business services (KIBS) are often seen as an important characteristic of the new, more knowledge based economy. Efficient sharing and transferring of knowledge is central, and KIBS play an important role in the learning and transaction processes. It is thus of importance to analyse KIBS’ role as a regional competitive base, e.g. by studying the competitiveness of cities and regions in terms of growth of employment, and particularly focus on the mobility of the individuals that enter and leave the KIBS sectors. Labour mobility in this growing sector may also act as a prerequisite for what may be expected to form the future labour mobility structures of the society, and is thus of particular importance for both the labour market and regional policy perspectives. Increased international migration as a result of increased internationalisation gives rise to a more internationally mixed labour force within countries. On the other hand, national labour market policy attempt to use actively immigration as a tool for solving parts of the domestic labour market problems, e.g. shortage of supply of certain kinds of labour in more remote regions. It is thus of particular importance to analyse the function of both initial and succeeding labour mobility among different immigrant groups and how their labour mobility function in relation to the mobility of the employed national majority. The main purpose of this paper is to present some analyses of the regional labour mobility in terms of growth of employment focusing on the number and quality of the persons that enter and leave the local labour markets. Besides some descriptive analyses, we test the hypothesis if the regional growth of employment is positively or negatively correlated to the level of different segments of gross mobility to and from jobs generally, and more particularly for employment in knowledge intensive service industries and for the employment broken down by different groups of nationality. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p526&r=geo |
| By: | Cécile Batisse; Nathalie Eyckmans; Olivier Meunier; Michel Mignolet |
| Abstract: | The European experience of convergence reveals that the catching up of some peripheral countries takes place by an increase of their regional disparities. In a way there is a tension between growth and social cohesion. That is particularly worrying for the socio-economic balance of the European Union when one expects that the enlargement to the Central and Eastern European countries will introduce more heterogeneity in space. Is public intervention able to reduce this tension and to seek at once more efficacy and more cohesion, i.e. equity? The aim of this article is to model public intervention in its two dimensions. The first is a search for efficacy through expected increased returns, i.e. productivity gains resulting from agglomeration forces. The second is a search for some collective gains that arise from a preservation of social cohesion by limiting disparities. Tax rates, fiscal incentives and capital grants are not the only public determinants of firm’s location choice. Public expenditures and economic infrastructures also play an important role on location behaviours. Regions compete by offering fiscal incentives and by supplying public goods in order to attract mobile capital. Our approach rests on several recent contributions. Models of effective taxation, in particular the seminal work of King and Fullerton (1984), have proved to be an appropriate framework to assess the impact of fiscal and financial incentives on firm’s investment decisions. In addition, two inspiring studies provide us with an elegant way to take into account both agglomeration economies, which stimulate collective efficacy [Garcia-Milà and McGuire (2002)] and the reduction of interregional disparities [Garcia-Milà and McGuire (2004)]. The key factor in this analysis is the solidarity level between regions. The approach could make the trade-off between efficiency and equity more explicit. These theoretical and methodological contributions are then subject of an application to the Belgian economy and its regions, at the heart of the European issues. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p638&r=geo |
| By: | Lale Berkoz; Sevkiye Sence Turk |
| Abstract: | Turkey adopted neo-liberal policies in order to increase economic integration into international relation after 1980. As a result of these policies, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows increased greatly. In 1980 there were 78 FDI firms in Turkey whereas the number increased by 9749 at the end of 2004. Turkey has become a hub of vast hinterland that extends from Balkans to Caucasus and represented a prime focus for foreign investment. For this reason, it is very important to know the characteristics and spatial distribution of FDI firms in Turkey. This study analyzes the spatial distribution of FDI (foreign direct investment) firms among the provinces in Turkey from 1990 to 2004. A model is developed to test the agglomeration economies as a demand, urbanization economies, market size, employment structure, government incentivies, information cost, locational wealth and infrastructure. The results support that agglomeration economies resulting from the concentration of manufacturing activities and density in the provinces; information cost and market size are stronger locational determinants in Turkey. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p434&r=geo |
| By: | John Stillwell |
| Abstract: | Population migration involves the relocation of individuals, households or moving groups between geographical locations. Aggregate spatial patterns of movement reflect complex combinations of motivation that influence migration behaviour and determine destination choice. Consequently there is a huge literature on modelling different types of migration at various spatial scales. This paper, which originates from a study for EUROSTAT to find a generally applicable migration model, endeavours to review the state of the art by exploiting the distinction between explanatory and projection models. Whilst the review inevitably lacks comprehensiveness, it demonstrates the difference between mathematical and statistical approaches, highlights a recent two-stage model developed for use in a policy context in the UK, and contrasts these methods with models developed in the context of multi-state demography and used for migration projection in the European Union. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p770&r=geo |
| By: | Martijn Van Boxtel; Menno Huys |
| Abstract: | The time that airports were merely infrastructural works for supporting air transportation is no more. Over the years, especially the major airports have developed from airfields into multi-modal transportation nodes and cities of their own. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a perfect example of this. The airport has developed into an attractive pool for urban and economic development, known as an AirportCity. Airports like Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, took up their newfound position in the emerging network society and implemented new business strategies to cope with the increasing volatility of future transport volumes. The search for additional finances has lead to further commercialization of the airport and gave rise to Airport-city like concepts. However, this evolving form of airports did not find its way into Dutch national planning policy. An analysis of Dutch national spatial strategies shows an increased interest for Amsterdam Airport Schiphol as being of major importance for the national economy, but the emphasis is still mainly on the airport as an important piece of physical infrastructure. With fierce competition of cities like Barcelona and Dublin in mind, the Amsterdam region needs a strong, widely supported, development strategy to maintain and strengthen its concurrence position. A strategy that acknowledges the new airport day-to-day realities and that goes beyond the narrow definition of the airport as merely infrastructural. Such a widely accepted strategy does not exist at this moment, which causes serious problems if policies are willing to strengthen the role of Schiphol for the national economy in the future. This paper explores the newfound position of airports in the network society. It links this position to an analysis of the processes of policy making to identify reasons why there is currently no strong development strategy for Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (region). A comparison is made between the policy development process in the late 80’s and early 90’s, which did result in a widely accepted development policy for the airport, and the policy development process that currently takes place. Interviews with primary stakeholders and analyses of policy documents shed light on the success factors that made the reach of an agreement possible in the early 90’s as well as the reasons for not being able to reach such agreement today. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p179&r=geo |
| By: | Marta Pascual; David Cantarero |
| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to analyse socio-economic inequalities in the European Union and their influence on health care. The empirical analysis is based mainly on data from the European Community Household Panel which contains data homogeneous across European Union countries and make comparisons possible. In addition, the functional form of the relationship between income and health, considering the impact of socioeconomic status among individuals whose medical needs are similar, is studied. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p555&r=geo |
| By: | Olivier Hoes |
| Abstract: | Heavy rainfall in recent years has shown that occasional flooding in polders cannot always be prevented, and it is likely that frequency and potential damage of flood events will increase in the future due to climate change, subsidence, and ongoing urbanization. So, to control the risk of flooding, water boards have to anticipate on both climate change and spatial planning. The question addressed in this paper is: how do climate change, and spatial planning increase the risk of flooding and how should the water authorities react? To answer this question two case studies have been carried out for Haarlemmermeer polder (Amsterdam, Schiphol airport), and Goeree Overflakkee. For both area’s a detailed risk analysis has been carried out, using GIS, hydrological models and damage-depth functions to determine the effect of climate change, spatial planning, and technical measures. The rationale behind risk analyses is explained in our paper, and illustrated with both case studies. The surplus value of risk analysis is that it allows a good cooperation between spatial planners and water authorities and provides a basis for a cost benefit analyses for the measures by the water authorities. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p779&r=geo |
| By: | J. Kim Swales; David Learmonth |
| Abstract: | The specific concern in this paper is the co-ordination difficulties within a target-setting regime where there are negative policy spillovers across regions and where these spillovers are not common knowledge amongst the government and the delegated agencies. We analyse this policy problem in a principal-agent framework, using a very simple model. In this model it is possible for both the government (the principal) and the regional agencies (the agents) to be either informed or uninformed about the nature of the inter-regional spillovers. Further, informed development agencies can either act non-cooperatively or collusively in attempting to meet the policy targets. We demonstrate that: ·where one policy objective has negative spillovers, there will be a switch in expenditure towards that policy that has the externality, ·the expenditure switch will be largest when the spillover is greatest ·where the agency is informed, the expenditure switch is reduced, ·if the number of informed agencies is increased, the extent of expenditure switching is increased unless the agencies collude, ·that such expenditure switching is arbitrary and likely to be welfare reducing ·adjustments to the targets by an uninformed government may make matters worse. The analysis is primarily done diagrammatically. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p341&r=geo |
| By: | Jian Zhang; Hiroyuki Shibusawa; Yuzuru Miyata |
| Abstract: | We are surely faced with the unavoidable problem as an element of important restrictions of development of human beings. It must be required to be solved immediately. It also brought the economic concerns to academic fields long ago. The positive and negative impacts of environmental and ecological changes are concerned the shift to a circulated type society from the conventional society. It is required by the end of today when the environmental problem in a global scale is aggravating. The view of the compact city of energy and resources saving is observed in recent years. The research on the balance of environmental load and urban growth needs to attract attention. In this paper, we consider a problem concerning the relationship between the spatial efficiency and the sustainability in an urban system. An urban model with natural environment is constructed to examine the possibility of such future urban forms. The idea of compact city offers us an important concept for sustainability. Our approach is based on the urban economic framework. Urban models, which have been developed since the 1970s, are classified into two categories, static and dynamic models. We adopt the framework of the dynamic urban model. In our study, the dynamic urban economic model with natural environment is built. The optimal control is applied into our numerical computation and the simulation analysis of the model is performed under several scenarios. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p280&r=geo |
| By: | Johan Woltjer; Niels Al |
| Abstract: | Dutch water management currently is in a position of fundamental change and renewal. As a consequence of factors such as climate change, continuous land subsidence, urbanisation pressures, and a lacking natural resilience of the water system to absorb water surpluses and shortages, the emphases has shifted from technical measures such as heightening dikes and enlarging drainage capacities towards allowing water to take more space. Since the late 1990s, water management has been modified from an approach of ‘keeping it out’ towards ‘fitting it in’. As a consequence, ‘water management’ and ‘spatial planning’ are associated more closely, especially at the regional level of scale. Recent efforts by spatial planners and water managers to establish new connections have been mainly oriented towards a regulatory planning style: mutual reviewing of policy documents, the interchange of technical knowledge, the establishment of new legal instruments, and the imposition of norms and standards. The paper provides an overview of these efforts, and then introduces the observation that a supplementary strategic planning style would be helpful. Further attunement between ‘space’ and ‘water’ requires strategic capacities to ‘frame mindsets’, ‘to organise attention’, and to transform restrictions into opportunities. Based on a literature review and case studies, therefore, we raise some critical questions as to how efforts to synchronise regional water management and spatial planning match international insights in strategy making and capacity building. Following Healey et al., we understand regional strategy making to include a notion of providing regions with ‘institutional capacity’ and social, intellectual, and political capital. We also build on Mintzberg et al. to emphasise the importance of ‘real vision’ and the need for more ‘imagination applied to building a strategy’. To what extent can current attempts to link Dutch water management and spatial planning be regarded as a reflection of a more strategic planning style? How do prevailing institutional conditions offer constraints or opportunities for further strategic action? We employ the Dutch case to explore some of these exemplary questions. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p566&r=geo |
| By: | Gunther Maier; Michael Vyborny |
| Abstract: | In this paper we use the novel (at least in regional science) technique of social network analysis and apply it to one of the most analyzed topics in the discipline, US internal migration. We want to see whether social network analysis can yield any new insights into this well known process. We want to compare the technique to more conventional methods of analysis in migration. The paper will give an overview of recent literature about internal migration between US states and summarize the main findings. It will then present an overview of social network analysis, define key concepts and describe the main components of the technique. This discussion will also involve a discussion of currently available software for social network analysis. Then, we will apply the technique to the official data about internal migration between US states as published by the US bureau of the census, to see whether the technique can reproduce the main results of the traditional techniques and whether it can yield any new insights. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p333&r=geo |
| By: | Bellone Flora |
| Abstract: | I develop a model of cumulative ICT investments in a small open economy framework with differenciated inputs and imperfect competition borrowed to Ciccone and Matsuyama (1996). Within this framework, fixed adoption costs and pecuniary externalities based on strategic complementarities between users and producers of ICT-related inputs are what allow for agglomeration economies in ICT investments despite the abscence of transport costs. Moreover, expectations and the way alternative industrial structures allow them to be coordinated (monopolistic competition versus horizontally integrated monopoly) are key determinants of the likelyhood of an economic catching-up based on the intensive adoption of ICT inputs. Actually, three alternative growth paths with very different long-run outcome are allowed to emerge : 1) a “no-growth path” path in which the economy is trapped into primitive production processes; 2) a “transitory high growth path” in which the region underwents a process of adjustment to technological change and modernize its production processes by intensively adopting imported ICT-related inputs; 3) a “miracle growth path” where the regional economy find the adequate incentives not only to intensively adopt imported ICT inputs but also to develop and produce new ICT inputs. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p731&r=geo |
| By: | Ulrich Dönitz; Jan Fasselt; Stefano Panebianco; Ralf Zimmer-Hegmann |
| Abstract: | Since the early 1990s, new forms of regional governance have spread over Western Europe: In many countries, the competencies and ressources of the subnational level have been reinforced (Jessop 1997). In parallel, there has been a shift from hyrarchical modes of government to more flexible, network-based types of governance. These are largely based on the cooperation of public and private actors as well as the civic sector (Benz 2003, Healey 2002 a.o.). Despite its popularity, the regional governance approach has so far only rarely been evaluated systematically. There might be several reasons for this shortcoming. First, the regional governance concept still lacks a clear definition; without knowing what regional governance is, it is hardly feasible to “test” for its outcomes. Moreover, regional governance systems and processes are marked by continuous and rapid transformations. Hence it is difficult to capture their impacts. Finally, the complexity of regional development processes render the assessment of the institutional background a methodological challenge. In the face of these considerations, this paper pursues a threefold objective. First, the authors explain the various needs of evaluating regional governance approaches. These include matters of efficiency as well as cohesion and accountability. Second, the paper discusses the methodological pitfalls and tasks that evaluators need to tackle in order to assess the benefits and weaknesses of regional governance processes . Third, the paper povides an insight into German evaluation experiences in the field, namely some first results from an evaluation of regional cooperation processes in Northrhine-Westfalia carried out at the ILS NRW in Dortmund. The paper concludes by deducing recommendations on how to evaluate regional governance. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p772&r=geo |
| By: | Oliver Falck |
| Abstract: | This paper analyses the effect of industry, regional and firm level characteristics on the post entry performance of newly founded businesses by means of an econometric survival time model. First preference is given to an accelerated failure time model assuming a log-logistic distribution. The dataset involves a representative sample of establishments in the private sector provided by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). The data relates to West German states during 1993-2002 period. A start-up’s The likelihood of failure tends to be relatively high in industries characterized by a high minimum efficient size and high numbers of entries. The regional dimension has a considerable impact upon improvements of estimation results. On the firm level, the size of the firm seems to be the best predictor for the likelihood of failure. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p49&r=geo |
| By: | M. Carmen Lima; M. Alejandro Cardenete |
| Abstract: | In this work we carry out an impact analysis of the European Structural Funds (ESF) to the object of assessing their effect on the GDP, the level of prices or the consumers’ income on the region of Andalusia in the south of Spain. Accordingly, we present an Applied General Equilibrium Model (AGEM_A) and we compare the reception scenario of regional funds with a hypothetical situation where this financial support has been removed. The AGEM_A has been built by supplementing the statistical information provided by the Social Accounting Matrices for Andalusia corresponding to 1990, 1995 and 1999, with the data included in the three Community Support Frameworks (CSF) approved by the European Commission. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p154&r=geo |
| By: | George Petrakos; Lefteris Topaloglou |
| Abstract: | Borders and border regions receive a special attention in the new post-1989 European architecture characterized by the processes of integration, transition and enlargement. What is actually happening to borders and border regions within this new environment? Are borders being abolished, weakened or are they being reproduced under a different pattern? What are the determinant factors which define the level and type of cross border interaction? This paper attempts to shed some light into the dynamics, perceptions and the new challenges concerning the “border phenomenon”. An empirical evidence is based on a survey at the Greek-Albanian-FYROM-Bulgarian border zone by analysing survey data. The survey, aims to evaluate a) the level and the type of cross-border interaction b) the obstacles and the limit of greater cross border interaction c) the existing perceptions and images of the other side of the borders d) the effectiveness of policies to stimulate interaction, e) the effects (positive and negative) of greater interaction on the border regions, f) the effects of EU enlargement on the c-b regions. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p424&r=geo |
| By: | Michiel Kort |
| Abstract: | Integrated area development projects and promising alternatives have in common that they surpass the values and possibilities of the individual parties (Burger e.a. 2003; Klijn, 1996). In the end solitary action will lead to resistance of other parties involved (and those interested). The ambition to make use of the promising alternatives requires collective action and co-production. In this paper ‘co-production arrangements’ in three cases will be explored and compared. The cases that are included in this paper are Vathorst, the development of a new housing area, Spaanse Polder, the restructuring of an industrial area and Gelderse Vallei, the reconstruction of a rural area |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p835&r=geo |
| By: | Ines Murillo; Fernando Núñez; Carlos Usabiaga |
| Abstract: | The objective of the present paper is to contribute to the study of the labour markets of two Spanish regions that have mantained over the last few decades a persistent unemployment differential with respect to the remainder of the country: Andalusia and Extremadura. To this end, a brief descriptive analysis is given of the most important variables of these regional labour makets, together with the corresponding shift-share and virtual economy analysis. To study the degree of persistence of the unemployment rate in these two regions, the behaviour of their labour markets in response to specific shocks in employment is examined by means of a VAR analysis, following the method proposed by Blanchard y Katz (1992). One of the most noteworthy aspects brought out by the descriptive analysis was that, although the labour markets of Andalusia and Extremadura share many characteristics - indeed most of those that were analyzed- they also present differenciated patterns of behaviour in some important variables. For example, in the case of Andalusia economy, there is a notably strong growth of the labor force. This contrasts whit the weakness of employment growth in the Extremadura economy. Also worthy of note is the greater wage flexibility in Extremadura compared to Andalusia. From the VAR analysis applied to each of these two regions, one can conclude that a specific demand shock in Andalusia and Extremadura has permanent effects on the participation rate - especially in Andalusia- and on the unemployment rate - especially in Extremadura-, with the migratory movements in these regions being too low to return these variables to the level they had prior to the demand shock. In sum, the present paper points to a set of factors that could contribute to explaining the unemployment differentials of Andalusia and Extremadura relative to the rest of Spain. More specific analyses would be required to evaluate the explanatory capacity of each of these factors in accordance with the underlying methodology and theories corresponding to each case. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p278&r=geo |
| By: | Gerke Hoogstra; Jouke Van Dijk; Raymond J.G.M. Florax |
| Abstract: | The issue whether ‘jobs follow people’ and/or ‘people follow jobs’ has recently emerged as one of the leading themes in regional and urban science. Much of the interest herein stems from alleged inconsistencies in the empirical evidence, which naturally raises questions as for the reasons why. Arguably, the nature of causality differs across space as well as time, while speculations have been rife about a number of methodological issues that may play a crucial role in shaping the research outcomes. In this paper a preliminary attempt is described to clarify these matters, by focusing on an articulate literature of 37 so-called ‘Carlino-Mills studies’. Specifically, a statistically supported literature review, referred to as ‘meta-analysis’, is presented in which the study results are evaluated and systematically related to a variety of study characteristics that underlie these results. By listing 308 study results reported in this literature, it is revealed that the empirical evidence is conform popular belief highly inconclusive, albeit that most of the results point towards ‘jobs follow people’. The findings of the meta-regression analyses indicate that the spatial setting of the study, the adopted model specification, and variables measurement in particular affect the research outcomes that indicate the jobs-people direction of causality. No evidence is found that the examination of data referring to a particular time period, population and/ or employment group make much of a difference. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p737&r=geo |
| By: | Alessia Gualtieri; Bernardino Romano |
| Abstract: | The analysis of the spatial and structural changes of the urban web represents a valid key of reading not only for the study of the landscape evolution of a datum territory but also for the understanding of the social and economic tendencies that will influence the choices in phase of planning and the following managerial politics. The proposed job illustrates some methodologies, supported from GIS technique, for the analysis of the modifications intervened so far in use and landscape picture, formulating the structure of some evolution entity indexes connected to past and current planning, both to the consequent spontaneous phenomenons to the economic logics. The result is that to compare the found trends of arrangement in the demografic-social-productive sphere with the changes in progress aspects loaded instead with environmental system through the analysis of the actual settlement structure and urbanistic instrument. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p271&r=geo |
| By: | Jorge Bateira |
| Abstract: | Following Nelson and Winter’s (1982) evolutionary critique of neoclassical view of technical change and economic growth, there appeared an abundant literature on National Innovation Systems (NIS) putting an emphasis on learning processes and institutions as important factors that shape the specific dynamics of growth in each country. Some scholars extended the discussion to sub-national territories, thereby giving origin to a new approach to regional development based on the concept of Regional Innovation Systems (RIS). Production and transfer of knowledge, and the role of institutions, are two major research domains in those strands of economics literature. However, the first one is largely dominated by H. Simon’ cognitivism, which is under serious critique from an interactivist-constructivist perspective; the second is mostly descriptive, lacking a theoretical discussion about the ontology of institutions. The paper critically discusses the theoretical assumptions usually adopted in the IS literature, and proposes conceptual alternatives. The latter provide a theoretical framework more close to the sociological research and lead to serious doubts that innovation processes organise into systems. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p374&r=geo |
| By: | Marina Van Geenhuizen |
| Abstract: | This paper fits into a new trend in empirical studies on agglomeration economies paying explicit attention to heterogeneity within innovative companies. The paper represents micro-level research, and is based on 21 in-depth case studies in a selected sample of young, innovative companies in the Netherlands. The selection criteria for sampling are derived from resource-based theory, e.g. age, size, corporate position, engaged in services or manufacturing industry. The selected sectors include mechatronics, biotechnology, ICT services and engineering services. In an attempt to identify causal factors and to identify different clusters of companies, we make use of rough set analysis, a method that typically fits small samples and qualitative data. Our research focuses on the importance perceived by company managers of a range of agglomeration advantages for the functioning of the company and on the perceived space in which the company could function satisfactorily. Based on our empirical explorations and given the theoretical positions of the selected case-studies, we arrive at the following findings (1) there is a divide of young, innovative companies into two, namely those facing a high level of importance (in large cities), and those facing a limited importance. In addition, network-based companies that outsource most of their activities to other companies may be facing no importance at all, potentially representing a third category; (2) the strongest factor influencing importance of agglomeration economies is corporate position, e.g. being a corporate spin-off or subsidiary (or not); (3) the spatial influence of agglomeration advantages tends to be broader than large cities only, but there are differences between the individual advantages, e.g. those working in a larger area of central cities, suburban places and medium-sized cities at larger distances, and those exclusively working in large cities or the largest city. Examples of the latter are a pool of young, internationally oriented labour force and direct access to the most advanced telecommunication infrastructure and services. The paper discusses the research design and the empirical outcomes and proposes various new hypotheses to be tested in large scale research. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p729&r=geo |
| By: | Leo JG Van Wissen; Nicole Gaag; Phil Rees; John Stillwell |
| Abstract: | Internal migration is the most volatile and difficult to predict component of regional demographic change. A pure demographic approach using age and sex-specific parameters of migration intensities cannot fully capture the migration trends over time. One of the approaches that can be used for a better description of past trends and forecasting of future trends is to use additional non-demographic information such as regional economic indicators. In this paper we compare the predictive performance of pure demographic and extended economic-geographical models using data of four European countries at the so-called NUTS 2 level. The models are nested within a GLM specification%2C that allows both demographic and extended models to be written as specific cases of loglinear models. Therefore model fit and performance can be compared directly. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p787&r=geo |
| By: | Jorgen Lauridsen; Morten Skak; Niels Erih Holm Nannerup |
| Abstract: | Theories on determinants of demand for owner occupied homes are summarised. An operational model which can be applied for empirical testing of theory is established. The model is estimated using Danish data. Theoretical determinants of the demand for owner occupied homes include social composition of population (age, social benefit receivers, household composition, civil status, education, nationality), economic ability (income), public regulation (regulation of house rent, housing subsidies, taxation), competition from alternative residence forms (measured by supply of subsidized housing), and population density. The data to be applied are aggregate data for 270 Danish municipalities, available annually for the period 1994-2004. An initial model specifies that the effects of the determinants are constant during the period 1994-2004. Presence of non-linearity, time trends, parametric instability and spatial spill-over are investigated and accounted for. Upon these adjustment, the empirical results generally confirm that the impacts of these determinants correspond to theory. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p238&r=geo |
| By: | Katja Maarika Estlander; Saara Pekkarinen |
| Abstract: | Regional transport system plans present the wide framework for local transport planning, and are the means of applying the national high-level objectives regionally. Transport system plans are usually created interactively with the regional land use planning. Prediction and appraisal of the potential impacts of the alternatives under discussion form an important part of the planning process. This paper presents Finnish experience in defining criteria for assessing the potential welfare impacts of a transport plan or policy. These criteria are to be used co-operatively by the planners and decision-makers. An important issue is the link between the formation of the objectives and the actual evaluation of impacts, as well as the underlying values and views that influence the selection of planning methods and practises. The criteria were drafted based on a literature review and preliminary discussions with national transport authorities. The preliminary criteria were selected and put into order by using the multi-criteria method MACBETH. The process involved active co-operation with the national transport authorities, as well as with other interest groups. The draft criteria were prioritised based on the opinions of selected representatives of national and regional authorities and transport planners. In this paper we focus on the priorisation process of the criteria, as well as discuss the validity and usability of the criteria created. Furthermore, the suitability of multi-criteria analysis in the context of regional transport planning is discussed, in addition to the consistency requirements between the criteria and the multi-criteria model. The criteria have been created in an ongoing Finnish study that aims at supporting regional transport planning, concerning the impacts that changes in the transport system may have on the welfare of the communities and individuals. Furthermore, the suitability of certain Multi-Criteria Decision Aid (MCDA) methods in creating consensus in the planning process is tested. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p463&r=geo |
| By: | Hannu Tervo; Mika Haapanen |
| Abstract: | Previous research has shown that local environment is important for self-employment. Self-employment dynamics varies between areas characterized by different labour market conditions, entrepreneurial tradition and other structural factors. Alternation between different labour market states (self-employment, paid-employment, non-employment) is also likely to increase if employment opportunities remain low in local labour market markets. This paper analyses the factors influencing the duration of self-employment spells in Finland with a large registered-based data set from the period of 1987-2002. It is evident that rates of exit out of self-employment and the length of self-employment spells depend upon personal characteristics and cyclical trends in the economy. The main aim is to analyse the role of region-specific factors as compared with individual specific and other factors on the duration of self-employment spells. Self-employment duration is modelled by using discrete survival analysis. First, descriptive analysis is done. Second, simple Cox proportional hazard models are estimated. Third, more complex hazard models e.g. with competing risks are used. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p315&r=geo |
| By: | Eliana Baici; Giorgia Casalone |
| Abstract: | Since Solow’s (1957) contribution, human capital entered in the debate on economic growth as a leading long period development factor. If from a theoretical point of view the role of human capital on economic growth both directly or throughout its use in the R&D activities is fully accepted, from an empirical perspective the results are much more controversial, strictly depending on the quality of data. A recent analysis by Aghion and Cohen (2004) put in evidence that high-level human capital has a positive effect on economic performance only if a country is close to the technological frontier: countries that are far from this frontier, specialised in traditional sectors, can growth, almost in the short run, even exploiting medium-level human capital. This analysis induce at looking at the link between human capital and growth with a greater detail, trying to disclose the effect of different human capital levels in a country, such as Italy, traditionally oriented toward a low/medium technology production. Using, beyond the usual proxies of human capital, some measures of its quality and of its interrelation with R&S sector, we would like to give a new contribution to the analysis of regional growth in Italy in the period 1980-2001. The panel approach, here used, allows us to take account of the temporal variability and to check for omitted variable specific for regions and persistent over time. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p251&r=geo |
| By: | Yuri Yegorov |
| Abstract: | The paper addresses an important issue of pricing mechanisms is spatially distributed systems with losses, with an application to water supply system. When losses from delivery are high, the asymmetry of spatial location of consumers plays an important role, which is captured by the model. The goal is to compare the efficiency from alternative market structures for water supply. The model can be applied for channels aimed on water redistribution. In particular, the model can be relevant for analysing different market structures, equilibrium water pricing and efficiency for the planned channels. Potential application can be planned channel between river Ebro (Spain) and communities Valencia and Murcia. While this paper is purely theoretical, it addresses the issues that are still little understood at administrative level. Water market as described is a necessity, but it will not emerge spontaneously and it requires appropriate legislative preparation. Mathematical model is designed in terms of densities and flows of corresponding economic variables. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p96&r=geo |
| By: | Marc Barthélémy; Michele Campagna; Alessandro Chessa; Andrea De Montis; Alessandro Vespignani |
| Abstract: | A variety of phenomena can be explained by means of a description of the features of their underlying network structure. In addition, a large number of scientists (see the reviews, eg. Barabasi, 2002; Watts, 2003) demonstrated the emergence of large-scale properties common to many different systems. These various results and studies led to what can be termed as the “new science of complex networks” and to emergence of the new “age of connectivity”. In the realms of urban and environmental planning, spatial analysis and regional science, many scientists have shown in the past years an increasing interest for the research developments on complex networks. Their studies range from theoretical statements on the need to apply complex network analysis to spatial phenomena (Salingaros, 2001) to empirical studies on quantitative research about urban space syntax (Jiang and Claramunt, 2004). Concerning transportation systems analysis, interesting results have been recently obtained on subway networks (Latora and Marchiori, 2002; Gastner and Newman, 2004) and airports (Barrat et al, 2004). In this paper, we study the inter-municipal commuting network of Sardinia (Italy). In this complex weighted network, the nodes correspond to urban centres while the weight of the links between two municipalities represents the flow of individuals between them. Following the analysis developed by Barrat et al. (2004), we investigate the topological and dynamical properties of this complex weighted network. The topology of this network can be accurately described by a regular small-world network while the traffic structure is very rich and reveals highly complex traffic patterns. Finally, in the perspective of policy-making and planning, we compare the emerging network behaviors with the geographical, social and demographical aspects of the transportation system. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p607&r=geo |
| By: | Caterina Cirelli; Leonardo Mercatanti; Enrico Domenico Nicosia; Carmelo Maria Porto |
| Abstract: | According to the hypothetical urban scenarios in the future, the urban ecosystem will be the piace where the most part of people live, with a deep negative impact on the world ecosystem. So it is necessary for all the people to get better ways of life in the towns and less and less unbalanced urban space, that to say a clean, efficiency and productive place that satisfies the needs of its inhabitants. A fundamental aim to the restoration of conditions of equity in the city seems to come from the models of development of sustainable city, related to the improvement of the environment and, above all, to a plan of sustainable society. Leaving from the indications of the European urban policies and those coming from issues about European, Mediterranean and Sicilian experiences, the team of present research may suggest he better political and technological choices adapted to the governance of urban ecosystem (with particular care for the waste, he transports, the management of the water and energetic resources) of the greater Sicilian cities an above all, of those if the Eastern Sicily. They will not come finally neglected the problematic related to the monitoring activities, both in function of the control of the environmental state and that of the continue verify of environmental impact of the pursued choices. Particular attention will be turned to the preventing of the seismic risk. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p139&r=geo |
| By: | Jon Inge Lian |
| Abstract: | When the toll rings around Bergen and Oslo was established in 1986 and 1990 respectively, they were part of a major scheme to speed up road investments. In Oslo twenty percent of the revenue was allocated to public transport investments. The paper studies the impact of these major investments in road and public transport infrastructure on car travel and on public transport services. The paper comprises of three parts: Firstly, it describes the important features of the schemes. Emphasis is placed on the funding mechanisms (toll ring, government co-funding) and on description of the investment packages. Secondly, the effects for public transport operations and performance are investigated. We look at developments in aggregate indicators like operating costs, travel patterns, modal split etc. It is concluded that qualitative improvements, like reserved bus lanes and fully connected metro services, have played an important role in Oslo, whereas public transport has lost ground in Bergen, mainly due to reduced subsidies. Thirdly, the effects on car travel (traffic volumes, travel times and timing) are analysed. It is concluded that the overall volume of car traffic and the traffic volume in the three broad sectors of both regions only to a minor extent is influenced by the investment program. Increase in income, labour and population is more important as explanatory factors. There is however a difference a difference in car travel growth rates between Bergen and Oslo, reflecting the greater emphasis on public transport both in investment programs and subsidy level in Oslo. In the end, effects of land use changes on car travel and the role of trunk road investments in land use changes is discussed and main findings are summed up and conclusions drawn. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p493&r=geo |
| By: | Nicolas Dendoncker; Mark Rounsevell; Patrick Bogaert |
| Abstract: | Understanding mechanisms that drive present land use patterns is essential in order to derive appropriate models of land use change. When static analyses of land use drivers are performed, they rarely explicitly deal with spatial autocorrelation. Most studies are undertaken on autocorrelation-free data samples. By doing this, a great deal of information that is present in the dataset is lost. This paper presents a spatially explicit, cross-sectional, logistic analysis of land use drivers in Belgium. It is shown that purely regressive logistic models can only identify trends or global relationships between socio-economic or physico-climatic drivers and the precise location of each land use type. However, when the goal of a study is to obtain the best model of land use distribution, a purely autoregressive (or neighbourhood-based) model is appropriate. Moreover, it is also concluded that a neighbourhood based only on the 8 surrounding cells leads to the best logistic regression models at this scale of observation. This statement is valid for each land use type studied – i.e. built-up, forests, cropland and grassland. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p59&r=geo |
| By: | Cihan Ahmet Tutluoðlu; Vedia Dokmeci |
| Abstract: | Land Zoning is an important issue in urban & regional planning, requiring heavy computational burden. Another challenge ihaving to decide on the parameters to be used in the evaluation. This paper takes the transportation-communication frequency and the rent-inflator interactions between different zonetypes (with possible coefficients) as the major elements in zone-evaluation. For the type of evaluation on the other hand three alternative methods were used. One of these methods only considers one-way interactions in rent-inflator relations. Another one is developped to include a self-updating mechanism on the same interactions. The third of the methods meanwhile attempts to take in account the topological factors. A software was developped in C++ that uses the Manhattan Metric to calculate the distances. The program prompts the user to feed in the evaluation method, different interaction coefficients as well as different landtypes and different maps. The software, based on the preference can either use a steepest descent heuristic or an enumeration algorithm. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p313&r=geo |
| By: | Robert S. De Waard |
| Abstract: | Many authors mention gaps between planning and reality (Salet, 2000; Wheeler, 2002), modelling and reality (Parker, 2003), and between modelling and planning (Clark, 2003). The first gap refers to inadequate planning models and instruments and the second one to the yet inadequate simulation models. The last before mentioned gap refers to cultural and ontological differences between these fields. There seems to be a kind of hate-love relationship: there is a promise of synergy, but also a considerable communication problem. Inside planning there is an ongoing debate on what qualities are important, how to deal with stakeholders and how to implement plans. This debate stretches from the functionalistic modernism to identity oriented comprehensive new regionalism. Planning concepts are in essence instruments for governance and therefore developed for and focused on control and intervention of specific aspects of spatial development. The root of planning is about the creation of the future and not about future research. This focus is one of the reasons why so many regional plans fail to be implemented. Modelling is focused on system behaviour; it is focused on scientific future research. Through its scientific approach and still inapt models, modelling however generates results that many planners do not recognize as practical from their daily perspective. They mistrust the models and find their grid based maps primal. Planning and modelling are complementary and therefore in principle synergetic. Modelling could provide planning, its context and moneylender, with a powerful evaluation tool. For this to happen however planning has to be more open to landscape as an autonomous system and must develop consistent (scenario) approaches. Now, planning models are mostly not adequate for interactive scenario development and simulation. And modelling has, next to improving performace, to pay more attention to practical planning issues (spatial quality and practise data) and language (catographic products and scales). This way they could make a beautiful couple, provided they work on themselves. What is required is a kind of intermediate or integrative scenario and typology approach. Simlandscape is a methodological toolbox for land use planning. It includes research and development, evaluation and monitoring of panoramic land use scenarios. It has been specifically developed to do the before mentioned job. Simlandscape was the object of a recently finished R&D project. It is designed to accommodate future research and interactive scenario development (explorative interactive planning) on a local and regional scale. The toolbox is based on an ontological transformation model of how landscape changes. Key elements are that Simlandscape is parcel based and actor and object orientated. The innovative aspects of Simlandscape have to do with the effect of the key elements of the model – an integration of land property and –exploitation in a landscape layer model in combination with a cadastral data model - for the comprehensiveness of the tool with respect to research activities, plan phases, qualities and stakeholders. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p290&r=geo |
| By: | Vyacheslav Vashanov; Jahan Orazdurdiyeva |
| Abstract: | Among the CIS countries Turkmenistan is known as one of the most closed state, information about which could hardly be found. At the same time these dates are contrary to each other. Meanwhile, Turkmenistan, a former Soviet Central Asian republic of almost 5 million people, has a lot of potential. It is rich in oil and gas. Proven gas reserves amount to at least 100 trillion cubic feet, and possibly 260 trillion, putting Turkmenistan among the world’s top 10 countries in terms of such reserves. Untapped oilfields lie off the coast in the Caspian Sea, the size of which is yet to be quantified. Being among the richest countries in the world in terms of hydrocarbon resources, Turkmenistan represents unquestionable interest for European community as an oil and gas exporter and interests at the world’s energy markets as well. The page gives some aspects of foreign economic activity based on analysis of the regional co-operation between Russian Federation and Turkmenistan. The paper puts to the center of research the following issues: a) classification of the Russia’s regions according to the level of commodity circulation; b) peculiarity of the trade links between Russia and Turkmenistan at the oil and gas, food, chemical and mechanical engineering fields; c)to determine export/import oriented regions. The purpose of the page is to investigate the present level of Russia-Turkmenistan co-operation, find out the ways to be integrated to the European’s energy markets. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p36&r=geo |
| By: | Makoto Okumura; Makoto Tsukai |
| Abstract: | It takes long time and huge amount of money to construct inter-city railway network. Careful demand forecasting and rational service planning are therefore required. However, long ranged demand forecasting is always facing to unintended change of regional population or change of the service level of competing transportation modes such as airline and inter-city express bus. Those changes sometimes resulted in severe decrease of demand for the constructed railway lines and discussion of abolishment of train service occurs. In order to avoid such tragedy, we want to build a robust network plan not vulnerable for the changes in forecasting conditions. This paper discusses the robustness of optimal inter-city railway network structure in Japan against alternative population distributions. Genetic Algorithm is applied to find best mixture of maximum operation speed category and number of daily train service for each link, which maximize the total consumer surplus of inter-city railway passengers. Consumer surplus is assessed by a gravity demand model considering service level along several routes for each OD pair. Travel time calculated by allocated link speed category, allocated train frequency, and estimated fare regressed by travel speed, will be summarized as route service level via ML route choice model parameters. In the GA, we consider a chromosome consists of two parts; speed category of 275 links and relative operation distance of trains in those links. Besides the real distribution of population in 197 Japanese local areas in the year of 1995, we set four other hypothetic population distributions; two of them concentrate in megalopolises like Tokyo, others disperse along geographically remote areas. We first obtain network structures optimized by the GA for each population setting. Speed category allocation will be compared for the five network plans. Secondly, we calculate total consumer surplus of each network plan under the different population settings and discuss the vulnerability of those plans. Thirdly, we optimize train operation plans for different population settings under the given speed category arrangements. The results shows that spatial arrangement of high speed railway service in 1995 keeps optimality for wide range of population settings, if we adjust number of trains according to alternative population distribution. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p497&r=geo |
| By: | Börje Johansson; Hans Lööf; Amy Rade Olsson |
| Abstract: | This study elucidates the relationship between localisation of firms, corporate structure, intellectual capital and innovations.The main finding is that a greater concentration of multinational firms, human capital, T&D and universities is significantly and positive associated with research productivity. All other things equal, such as firm size, sector classification, human capital, corporate owner structure and R&D investment, the return to an invested Euro in R&D is, at the margin, greatest for firms localized to the capital of Sweden, compared to four other large regions. However, surprisingly Stockholm firms also have a lower propensity to cooperate with scientific, vertical and horisontal innovation systems. This may reflect limitations of popular survey-based information such as Community Innovation Survey data to capture spillover and the importance of informal collaborative relationships within regions. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p108&r=geo |
| By: | Michael Sonis |
| Abstract: | This paper presents the critical reevaluation of the methodology of classical Christaller- Central Place Theory.First of all the reconstruction of Central Place Geometry on the basis of the Barycentric Calculus was considered. On this basis the novel superpositional model of the actual Central Place System is constructed. Building blocks of this model are the Beckman-McPherson models representing the main tendencies of optimal organizations of space acting simultaneously in the actual Central Place system. The weights of these building blocks represent the level of realization of the specific extreme tendency in the real system. Next the (jumping) catastrophic dynamics of the Central Place hierarchies presented with the help of geometrical scheme of the movement of the point representing actual Central Place system in the polyhedron of all admissible Central Place systems. Three main applications of the new conceptual framework are elaborated in detail: 1. The Superposition Principle: elaboration of the algorithm of decomposition of an actual Central place system into the weighted sum of the Beckmann-McPherson building blocks. 2. The Enumeration of all structurally stable optimal (minimal cost) transportation flows in the hierarchical Central Place system and 3. The Merger of two major theories in the Regional Science: the classical Input-Output theory of Leontief and the classical Christaller- Central Place theory. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p18&r=geo |
| By: | Carlos Herminio De Aguiar Oliveira; Vera Lucia Alves Franca; Françoise Carpy Goulard; Maria Augusta Mundim Vargas |
| Abstract: | This study aims at comparing the social and economic situation of the down valley of the San Francisco river in the State of Sergipe (Brazil), before and after the construction of the Sobradinho dam (1978), implemented to produce hydro-electric energy. Data of fourteen parameters have been collected in sixteen municipalities to compare the years 1970 with 2000. Statistical analysis and mapping of these data enhanced the comparative study. Due to the energy supply, the management of the river San Francisco boosted the development of important industrial complexes and consequently the implantation of big urban centers in the North – East of the country. But these infrastructures impacted negatively the environment at a local scale. It had unfavourable consequences for the populations living at the river sides downstream of the dam. For instance, the flow regulated at 2.060 m³/s prohibits natural floods of the adjacent alluvial plains as well as the feeding of the lagoons. As a consequence no traditional rice production and fishing could be practised anymore. Therefore national government, through the CODEVASF (public company for the development of the valley of the river Sao Fransisco), implemented an action plan to reduce these impacts downstream the Sobradinho dam. Important investments allowed the creation of irrigation belts and alevin production stations. Considering the initial desired level of living standard for the local population (job creation and increase of average annual income), and despite of the significant progress of the main indicators, it appears that these actions bring only partial and incomplete improvement. The water management, as a consequence of the dam, changed drastically the territory and its rural traditional activities. This study demonstrates the necessity to create a unit for territorial planning as well as a structure for integrated water management. Because water and its management play key roles on the identity, the construction and the development of a territory. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p673&r=geo |
| By: | Silvia Amaral; Tomaz Dentinho |
| Abstract: | Huambo province in Angola has been detached from the outside world since the begining of the nineties. First due to the civil war in Angola and from then on due to the degradation of the roads and destruction of the railways. Furthermore there is the lack of integration of the province itself due to transport difficulties and human desertification. The objective of this paper is to understand the role of the roads network and the distribution of public funding in the revival of the economy in the Province of Huambo. First we present a review of the literature that stresses that one of the major causes of poverty due to war is related to the lack of accessibility. Then we formulated, calibrate a spatial interaction model for the Huambo City and Province where the degree of openness of the economy can be explicitated. Finaly we simulate the model for different scenarios of road network and distrubution of public funds. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p252&r=geo |
| By: | Dietmar Meyer; Jörg Lackenbauer |
| Abstract: | As a result of the combination of endogenous growth theory with the approach of the new economic geography (NEG), several models have been developed to explain spatial income inequality and to formulate possible policy strategies taking into account the equity-efficiency trade-off. The dynamics of this problem should be considered as fundamentally important for the enlargement of the EU, because with respect to the new Member States from Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs), EU cohesion policy is confronted with a double challenge: how can it contribute to attain higher national growth (and therefore convergence towards the EU average income per capita) and at the same time contribute to the decrease of regional disparities within the new Member States? This analysis is particularly appealing against the background of the alleged equity-efficiency trade-off that regional policies often suffer from. After the introduction, in the second part of this paper, some light is shed on this equity-efficiency trade-off in the framework of an overview surveying the theoretical literature on the issue. In the third part of the paper, a model presented by Philippe Martin (1999) is presented. Martin’s model combines the approaches of NEG and endogenous growth theory. In the fourth part, we develop a very simple dynamic version of the Martin model, followed by its formal analysis. We examine the effect of a monetary transfer to the poorer region, financed by the EU in the context of its cohesion policy interventions. In the fifth part, we derive some regional policy implications of the dynamised version of the Martin model. We find that there is a case for a “two step regional policy approach” in order to tackle the equity-efficiency trade-off challenge: this approach first aims to support the richer region and thus aggregate growth in the whole integrated area, and then to pursue an equity-oriented cohesion policy by fostering firm creation and innovation in the poorer region. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p564&r=geo |
| By: | Fumitoshi Mizutani; Tomoyasu Tanaka |
| Abstract: | Inefficient use of public money is a policy issue of concern in Japan. Some contend that spending towards the formation of public capital does not promote economic growth, one reason being that such investment is concentrated in underdeveloped regions which have a low impact on the growth of economic activity. Investment in underdeveloped regions might be the result of political misallocation or simply the fact that public capital no longer contributes to private productivity. Our study addresses these two important issues: whether or not public infrastructure contributes to production in the private sector, and whether or not political factors really affect the allocation of public infrastructure investment. If the political factors indeed affect allocation, what kinds of political factors are the most deterministic? First, we survey studies on this topic published since the 1970s. For methodology, we plan to take a simultaneous approach to examine these issues. Second, because some data are not publicly available, we construct a data set of public infrastructure and related variables. Public capital in this study is limited to public infrastructure such as roads, ports, airports, banks and dams. Railroads and electric power plants are excluded because these were built by the private sector in Japan. In this study, we plan to use a panel data set covering 46 prefectures and 9 time periods for every 5 years from 1955 to 1995 in Japan. Therefore, the total sample size in this study is 414. Third, after constructing the data set, we overview the regional distribution of public infrastructure and the relationship between public infrastructure allocation and political factors. Last, we estimate simultaneous equations regarding regional production function, infrastructure investment function and grant allocation function. By using these estimated functions, we evaluate whether or not public capital contributes to production and what kind of political factors affect the allocation of public infrastructure investment. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p412&r=geo |
| By: | Christian Ariel Volpe Martincus; Andrea Molinari |
| Abstract: | Does trade lead to increased cross-country regional business cycle synchronization and reduced national economic borders? The theory does not really provide an unambiguous answer. Our paper addresses empirically this question using Argentina and Brazil as case studies of developing countries. These countries liberalized unilaterally trade since the mid-1980s and also established MERCOSUR (a regional integration agreement with Paraguay and Uruguay) in 1991. As a consequence, the intensity of trade between Argentina and Brazil rose significantly. The answer to the initial question is no. The increase in bilateral trade between Argentina and Brazil did not translate into significantly more synchronized regional business cycles. Using Gross Provincial Product for Argentina and Gross State Product for Brazil for the period 1961 to 2000, we find that within-country regional business cycle synchronization is substantially larger than cross-country regional business cycle synchronization. Moreover, this difference has increased over time. These results are mainly driven by Argentina’s behavior and hold even after controlling for factors such as distance, size, sectoral specialization, and the degree of regional fiscal policy coordination. The empirical evidence based on Brazilian states and Argentina as a whole suggests that the higher level of trade among regions within a country is an important factor to that accounts for the observed border effect. In the case of Argentina additional factors such as monetary and exchange rate policies and large country-specific shocks have also played a significant role. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p93&r=geo |
| By: | Sevkiye Sence Turk; Lale Berkoz |
| Abstract: | Within the context of the foreign capital- orientation programme having been implemented since 1980, the regulation concerning the foreign investments in Turkey were freed and this has paved the way for important developments in terms of the entrance of foreign capital into the country and foreign investments. As a result of this, there was a dramatic increase in number of foreign investment firms in Turkey and, especially, Istanbul. The increase in foreign investments had major impacts on the spatial transformation of Istanbul Metropolitan Area. In this paper, change in FDI firm population in Istanbul has been viewed between 1990- 2004. An explanatory model has been applied to determine causes factors affecting change at the district level. Foreign firms were generally in parallel with the development of CBD ( the central business district) of Istanbul and Foreign Capital firms in Istanbul appear to demonstrate a trend towards accumulating in CBD. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p437&r=geo |
| By: | Olaf Jonkeren |
| Abstract: | Since 1998 every form of regulation in the inland shipping market has been ruled out. As a result of years of setting minimum prices and dividing cargo’s a situation of over-capacity has occurred. The situation of over-capacity still exists but now in a free market. This situation has some interesting implications. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p773&r=geo |
| By: | Boris A. Portnov; Daniel Felsenstein |
| Abstract: | Though individual studies of regional disparity may deal with separate development measures - population growth, wages, welfare, regional productivity, etc. - the use of an integrated indicator is often essential, particularly if a comparative (cross-country) analysis is required. In order to measure the extent of disparities, various indices of inequality are commonly used. The goal of present study was to determine whether commonly used inequality measures (Gini, coefficient of variation, etc.) produce meaningful estimates when applied to small countries, thus making it possible to compare the results of analysis obtained for such countries with those obtained elsewhere. As we argue, a small country may differ from a country of larger size in three fundamental features. First, it is likely to have a relatively small number of regional divisions. Second, its regional divisions are likely to vary considerably in their population sizes. Lastly, regions of a small country may rapidly change their rank-order positions in the country-wide hierarchy, by changing their attributes (e.g., population and incomes). In contrast, in a large country such rank-order changes may be both less pronounced and slower-acting. In order to formalize these distinctions, we designed simple empirical tests, in which income and population distributions, presumably characteristic for small countries, were compared with a “reference” distribution, assumed to represent more accurately a country of a larger size. In the latter (reference) distribution, the population was distributed evenly across regional divisions and assumed to be static. In the first test, we checked whether the overall number of regions matters. In the second, we tested whether different inequality indices respond to differences in the regional distribution of population, viz., evenly spread population in the reference distribution vs. unevenly spread population in the test distribution. Finally, in the third test, we verified whether different inequality indices were sensitive to the sequence in which regions are introduced into the calculation. Somewhat surprisingly, none of the indices we tested appeared to pass all the tests, meaning that they may produce (at least in theory) misleading estimates if used for small countries. However, two population weighted indices – Williamson and Gini - appeared to exhibit only minor flaws and may thus be considered as more or less reliable regional inequality measures. Although further studies on the performance of different inequality indices may be needed to verify the generality of our observations, the present analysis clearly cautions against indiscriminate use of inequality indices for regional analysis and comparison. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p136&r=geo |
| By: | Aris Gaaff; Tom Kuhlman; Frank Van Tongeren |
| Abstract: | When we model land use change, we utilize – consciously or unconsciously – other models as well. The variables we regard as exogenous are often generated endogenously by a different model. We are not always fully aware of the implications of this for our modelling exercises. The model which generated the demographic growth that we use in forecasting the need for residential space may have used assumptions that are at variance with ours. The model resulting in claims for agricultural land may have already taken competing claims into account – whereas our land use model may simulate this competition all over again. The data used for different models may not be compatible. Conversely, our land use simulation exercises can also be used by others as input. A model for the agricultural sector, for instance, must consider the constraint of available land – especially whether the land required is available in a particular area which is regarded as optimal for a particular production line. Land use models can provide that input. The Agricultural Economics Research Institute in The Hague, uses a number of models at various spatial levels – from the individual farm to the global economy – and for different purposes. Recently, the linkages between these models have received more attention, which also lays bare the compatibility problems between them. In order to examine both the possibilities and the problems inherent in these linkages, a research project on this ‘model train’ has been undertaken. Based on two opposing scenarios prepared by the Dutch Central Planning Bureau, the study calculates the long-term consequences of these scenarios: beginning with a general equilibrium model at global level (GTAP) through a sectoral model at national and regional scale - the Dutch Regionalized Agricultural Model (DRAM) – to a model assessing ecological effects in a local area (SOMMA). The Land Use Scanner, a land use information system and simulation model for the Netherlands, has been used to predict changes in the agricultural area for the regions used in DRAM. The land claims, which are an exogenous variable in the Land Use Scanner, were generated from projections of future population and GDP, on the basis of their historical correlation with land use. This project has led to interesting insights into the problems of linking models. It is hoped that these insights will help to improve the models we use – including land use models. The paper highlights the importance of making modelling assumptions explicit, such that the outcome of one model can indeed be a useful input into another one. The integrated modelling approach yields more consistent projections of land use. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p451&r=geo |
| By: | Joyce Dargay; Jos Van Ommeren |
| Abstract: | Although urban economics theory predicts that households with higher incomes have different commuting time patterns than low income households, the direction of the effect is ambiguous. From a “value of time” perspective, one can argue that high income households may have shorter commuting times because their time is more precious; thus they choose to live closer to the job and are willing to pay for faster modes of travel. However, it can alternatively be argued that they may have longer commuting times, because they desire and can afford more living space and a higher quality of housing than is available or affordable in closer proximity to employment centres. Empirical testing of these alternative hypotheses is not straight forward because income, itself, is determined by commuting time as workers are willing to travel further for higher wages. This reverse causation must be taken into account in the estimation, but this is often problematic due to a lack of good control variables. In the current paper, we employ panel data to overcome these problems. To deal with reversed causation we only select workers who did not change workplace location during the period. For these workers, changes in commuting time resulting from an income change come about either through a change in residential location or a change in travel mode. In addition, by estimating the effect of annual income changes on commuting time changes, the necessity of good control variables is avoided. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p593&r=geo |
| By: | Marija Boèkarjova |
| Abstract: | Protection from the threats posed by water in the Netherlands has a centuries old history. Remarkably, if one takes a historical prospective, it becomes apparent that water protection policy has not changed much through time. In fact, one may detect a certain “path dependency”. Today many experts agree that “technocratic” philosophy of raising dikes (though now upgraded with certain new techniques for water retention) has reached the limits of its development cycle. This means that new solutions have to be found to guarantee long run sustainability under conditions of increasing risk of sea level rise. A number of implications for regional development are addressed in this paper. We will present a novel way of thinking about the complex flood protection problem in a densely populated country with a highly developed economic network. Basically, a large-scale disaster hitting an industrial area causes (temporary) businesses closure and thus production breakdown, thereby generating distortions in the whole economic network. We present a first effort to model such distortions using an adapted Input-Output (I-O) model. In contrast to the existing I-O models, our model is able to deal with production disturbances and emerging disequilibria on the market, which has not been the case before. As a result, we can explore various flood scenarios and describe possible recovery paths. Here we shall focus our analysis on the regional structure. The Western provinces of the Netherlands, the areas most prone to flooding, are industrially highly developed. Once such a province has been hit, this may have direct and indirect consequences for other regions in the medium and long term. For example, other (peripheral) areas of the country may experience an incentive for output growth, overtaking the lost production from the central part to satisfy demand needs. Using inter-regional input-output tables for the Netherlands we show how in principle the sectoral composition of the provinces may change in the aftermath of a calamity. Furthermore, this may have implications for the bordering countries as well as for specific parts all over Europe. Our proposed approach is not only a device to study possible regional change as a result of a disaster; it can also serve an instrument for policy advice. This may assist policymakers in thinking about the long-run dynamics in regional development strategies. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p540&r=geo |
| By: | Willem Oosterberg; Camiel Van Drimmelen; Maarten Van der Vlist |
| Abstract: | In many countries, important economic centres and major cities are located in a flood-prone area at the confluence of a large river and the sea. The expansion of these cities increases the risk of major flood disasters, a risk that is further increased if the predicted effects of climate change come true. Recent thinking about flood prevention stresses the importance of restricting city expansions into flood-prone areas, flood-proofing cities and accomodating floods by reserving space for water. These ideas require innovative city design, cooperation between city planners and water managers, and a policy that connects various levels of government with business and the public. The choice of strategy may be culture-specific, but will in any case involve large investments, and have long-term and large-scale consequences. Thus, it is worthwhile to exchange experiences between delta's that are tackling this problem. In the paper we will compare the approaches in a number of "typical" urbanized flood-prone delta's: New Orleans in the Mississippi delta, the Randstad in the Rhine delta, Venice in the Po delta, Wuhan along the Yangtze, Yokohama along the Tsurumi, Dhaka in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta and London along the Thames. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p174&r=geo |
| By: | Ute Hansen |
| Abstract: | A regional e-cluster system and its cybernetics are characterised by a high degree of complexity which requires a comprehensive strategy. The identification of the key components of this e-cluster system and its interrelationships show that the component “knowledge management” is a critical and decisive process in an e-cluster system. ClusterNet builds the strategic frame for a process oriented knowledge management in a regional e-cluster system. The strategy of knowledge management consists of objectives, activities and measures to reach the vision that the resource of knowledge is used effectively in the cluster specific processes. Consequently this strategy requires the processes of knowledge management to be combined with the cluster processes in a technical and organisational way. The knowledge of an e-cluster can therefore just in time with the cluster processes be identified, acquired, developed, used, distributed and finally stored. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p757&r=geo |
| By: | Uwe Blien; Franziska Hirschenauer; Van Phan thi Hong |
| Abstract: | In many countries labour market policy has to deal with fairly large and persistent regional labour market disparities. In the case of Germany, parts of the country are affected by a deep unemployment crisis whereas others show nearly full employment. Since these disparities cannot be reduced to only one dimension a classification system of labour markets was developed. The criterion of this system was the identification of the “regional disadvantage” for the success of labour market policy. To optimise the results a new two-step classification method was applied. The first step included re-gression analyses to identify the exogenous determinants of the success of labour market policy. In the second step, different types of labour markets are determined from a specific variant of cluster analysis which used the weighted variables identified as significant in the first step. This classification has been used in the Federal Employment Agency for many applications of labour market policy, e.g. in the decentralised management. Besides that, the new classification obtained has also been employed in research, for example in the evaluation of labour market policy. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p766&r=geo |
| By: | Wilbert Grevers; Anne Van der Veen |
| Abstract: | This paper develops a unifying framework for spatial and environmental economics, based on equilibrium considerations for population games. The main contribution of this paper consists of introducing a consistent concept for spatial welfare. Following the introduction of estimable locational sorting models for valuation methods in environmental economics, the relationship between the theoretical underpinnings of the hedonic pricing model and the bid rent concept in urban economics is re-examined. This is done along the definition of the ideal general equilibrium willingness to pay (GE-WTP) that is at the heart of most applications of locational sorting models in environmental economics. A GE-WTP should be able to account for the value of non-marginal changes in a spatially explicit distribution of local public goods. Commonly, such a GE-WTP is derived as a Hicksian WTP adjusted for endogenous prices. Endogenous prices are typically enforced by a market clearing condition, often a fixed supply, constraining the relocation of a population in response to the changes in local quality. This paper offers an alternative interpretation of a GE-WTP. It demonstrates how for a discrete choice formulation, a fixed supply generically results in a Nash equilibrium in a population game. Furthermore, it is shown that this Nash equilibrium corresponds exactly to a spatial equilibrium in urban economics. This observation allows for a novel spatially explicit approach to the evaluation of land policy options, combining current cost-benefit practice with the optimization of land use. Finally it is shown, how the GE-WTP can be adjusted for developers' decisions, based on the analogy with urban economic models. It allows this spatial welfare measure to be extended with endogenous, instead of fixed, supply. This makes the concept also suitable for comparing the social welfare implications of entirely different land use patterns. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p386&r=geo |
| By: | Taede Tillema; Bert Van Wee; Dick Ettema |
| Abstract: | Road pricing policies are, after a cooling down period of a couple of years, again prominently back on the political agenda in the Netherlands. But also in the period of less political interest, research in the field of (road) pricing policies continued in other countries as well as in the Netherlands. Most research literature focuses on the economic and acceptability aspects of pricing policies. The geographical aspects of transport pricing however have received much less attention so far. This paper focuses on possible influences of road pricing policies on residential and work location choice of households. The paper starts with analyzing the importance of transport and location related variables in residential location decisions, when the choice to relocate itself has been made. For this analysis data from a stated choice experiment is used. Choice screens within the experiment consisted of two alternatives. In total, per respondent nine choice screens were shown. Transport related variables within the experiment were commuting travel time, fuel cost and toll cost. The location related variables consisted of the residential environment, the number of bedrooms and the monthly housing costs. Analysis of the results gives insight into the importance of for example toll costs on the final location choice when a decision to relocate itself has already been made. However this type of analysis does not give insight into the number of people who are actually considering changing location when a form of road pricing is introduced. Therefore the second part of the paper continues with analyzing the extent to which people are likely to relocate due to road pricing. The effect of different types of pricing measures and pricing levels on this inclination to relocate are examined. For the analysis, data from a stated preference questionnaire is used. The paper finally concludes with an examination of important explaining variables for moving house or changing job due to road pricing. Some important findings are for example that older people (above 40 years of age), people with a higher income and persons getting a travel cost compensation from their employer are less willing to move due to a pricing measure. People with a higher education level however are more willing to relocate. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p309&r=geo |
| By: | Josef Abrham; Milan Vosta; Adela Tesarova |
| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to analyse the question of clusters in the Czech Republic. Clusters have been recently identified by public bodies as a useful measures for supporting regional competitiveness. What has been done so far and based on which theoretical approaches? How to procede in future? Which are the possibilities for clusters in the Czech Republic? The theoretical approach is based on the “diamond” of Michael Porter and on his definition saying that clusters are geographic concentrations of interconnected companies, specialized suppliers, service providers, and associated institutions in a particular field that are present in a nation or region. Clusters can be viewed in a wider or narrower context. In the first case, all linkages among businesses that arose naturally and do not have any institutionalised structures can be considered a cluster. In our view, it is possible to find examples of such clusters in the Czech Republic, for example in the automotive industry. Under the second approach a cluster is an organised network of enterprises and other entities, such as research institutions and academic bodies. In such case the cluster has a central body which is organising and managing the economic activities inside the network. There is one example of this cluster in the Czech Republic – the so called Moravian-Silesian Engineering Cluster. This cluster is a rather specific case because the industries in this network have been undergoing the process of restructuralisation. Based on this picture, it can be stated that clusters are not particulary present in the Czech economy. But recently the development of clusters has been strongly supported by the official authorities in the Czech Republic and has become one of the instruments of regional policy. Not only after EU accession but even before, EU funds have been used to push the creation of organised clusters. For example the feasibility study of the Moravian-Silesian cluster was financed from the programme Phare. In 2004 a programme “Clusters” has been launche as part of the Operational Programme “Industry and Enterprise” for the EU Regional Policy planning period 2004-2006. The questions that arise and that we are dealing with in our paper are the following: supporting the development of clustres – is it a good way how to face regional underdevelopment in the Czech Republic? Which industries should be supported? And do we have the right mechanism to be able to identify vital industries? Is it actually possible to develop vital and functioning clusters in this artificial way? |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p572&r=geo |
| By: | Malcolm Greig; Ron McQuaid |
| Abstract: | This paper examines ferry fares and quality of service to a remote island region and analyses how this affects the economy of the islands. Taking the Western Isles in Scotland as a case study, the paper identifies the links between fares, service, and economic development and attempts to quantify this impact. A new methodology is developed to estimate the impact of service frequency. The Western Isles, especially the more remote southern islands, face particular challenges due to their peripheral location relative to markets and supplies in Scotland, the rest of the UK and the European ‘core’. This manifests itself in terms of access to skilled labour, raw materials, connections to other businesses and customers. These economies are likely to experience higher transportation costs to domestic and international markets and may also be limited by the frequency and reliability of connections. The ferry services between islands and with mainland Scotland are vital to the continued economic and social well-being of the Western Isles. The extent of the contribution of ferry services towards the economic and social prosperity of the Isles is very much dependant upon the frequency, speed and reliability of service and on the fare structure. It is therefore vital to ensure that the correct fare mechanism is in place to ensure maximum benefit to the local economy of the Isles, in addition to satisfying value for money criteria for the taxpayer and commercial viability for the operators. Our findings show that a reduction in ferry fares and, in particular in increase in service frequency, will have substantial income and employment benefits to the local economy, running into millions of pounds annually. It is also revealed that there is potential to increase the quality of service to the Isles, and reduce fares in some cases, with no increase in public subsidy towards operating costs. This is achieved by taking a more radical perspective to the routes and services operated, and by more closely matching service provision to the demands of communities within the islands. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p740&r=geo |
| By: | Jacob J. De Vries; Peter Nijkamp; Piet Rietveld |
| Abstract: | In this paper we investigate the form of the distance-decay function for commuting, on the basis of an analysis of home-to-work relationships between municipalities in Denmark. The equation for the number of commuters is taken from Alonso’s Theory of Movements, in which the Spatial Interaction Models of Wilson’s Family are nested. Our estimation method separates the decay function F from the balancing factors, and includes a weighting procedure that takes specification error and heteroscedasticity into account. It appears that neither an exponential nor a power distance-decay function fits the data well. The specification of log F as a (downwards) logistic function of log cost results in a better fit. We find that the cost elasticity reaches a value of –4 for distances around 24 km, while it is close to for both very short and very long distances. Finally, we demonstrate that the choice of functional form for distance-decay can make an important difference for predictions concerning the effect of infrastructure improvements on commuting flows. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p261&r=geo |
| By: | Matteo Lanzafame |
| Abstract: | Over the years, Italy’s regional disparities have been the object of much investigation in the literature. Recent evidence points to a revival of the convergence process, which had come to a halt in the mid-1970s, and renews the interest in the subject. This paper aims at contributing to the debate. Endorsing the critiques of the neoclassical assumption of technology as a public good, we investigate the link between economies’ structural characteristics and their growth performance. Specifically, treating technology as sector-specific and modelling technological spillovers as a positive function of the degree of similarity between economies’ sectoral features, a modified version of the Solow model is put forward and used to derive an “extended” convergence equation. The latter is then estimated by means of Panel Data procedures and data on the Italian regions over the 1970-1995 period. The results bring empirical support to our approach. From a theoretical viewpoint, our model suggests that the effects of technology diffusion on the convergence process are twofold. Firstly, if technological progress is partly dependent on external innovations, the temporal evolution of each economy’s productivity level, and its speed of convergence to the steady state value, cannot be ascribed solely to the existence of diminishing returns to capital, as suggested by Neoclassical Growth Theory, but is affected by technology diffusion as well. The difficulty in disentangling the effects of the two factors on the convergence rate remains, but the “extended” convergence equation arrived at reveals that the size of technological spillovers will have a level effect on productivity. Secondly, treating technological progress as sector dependent, our model implies potential steady-state growth rate heterogeneity. Thus, the estimated convergence rate can be ascribed to the concept of “Weak Conditional Convergence” [Islam (2003)], with each economy converging to its own steady state growth rate, which is more likely to be different from the others the more diverse the steady state production structures. These arguments lend support to the concept of “Club Convergence”. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p323&r=geo |
| By: | Annette, S. Zeilstra; Linda, A Toolsema |
| Abstract: | This paper studies regional labour markets in a country with centralised wage bargaining. We use a four-stage theoretical model with two regions and one sector. In the first stage the union and employer federation engage in Nash bargaining at the national level according to a Right To Manage (RTM) model. In the second stage the individual employers determine the number of employees they want to hire given the outcome of the national wage bargaining. In the third stage individuals decide whether or not they want to migrate to another region and if they want to participate in the labour market or not. In the fourth stage the product market clears. In this model, depending on the parameters, the change in participation and the level of migration determine the distribution of unemployment over the regions. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p720&r=geo |
| By: | Ed Dammers; David Evers; Aldert De Vries |
| Abstract: | The European Union is changing significantly. It has recently been enlarged by 10 new Member States, decision-making about the European Constitution is going on, and it has set itself the target of becoming the most competitive economy in the world (Lisbon Strategy). The scenarios explore in an integrated way the territorial impacts of future changes in the economy, transport, rural development, environment, and other policy fields. They do not only concentrate on the territorial impacts of the trends and driving forces but also of the relevant EU Policies. The scenarios throw a light on the effectiveness of EU Policies and the synergies as well as conflicts they generate. By doing this they provide important insights in the conditions under which these trends, driving forces and policies will favour a balanced and polycentric territory and territorial cohesion within the enlarging European Union. These insights are relevant for recommendations on possible adjustments and/or changes of EU Policies. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p321&r=geo |
| By: | Jan Ole Schroers; Patrick Sheridan; Eike Rommelfanger |
| Abstract: | An assessment of agricultural policy measures and their sustainability needs to consider economic, social, and ecological aspects. The current paradigm shift of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) from coupled to decoupled transfer payments calls for such an evaluation. Land users have to reevaluate their production program and its spatial allocation. Consequently, agricultural policy influences regional land use patterns and shares of land use systems, which in turn influence regional plant species richness. Connecting land use and ecological models allows to assess socioeconomic and ecologic effects of policy measures by identifying interactions and estimating potential trade-offs. The paper presents the land use model ProLand and the fuzzy expert system UPAL. ProLand models the regional distribution of land use systems while UPAL predicts plant species richness. The models are connected through a GIS and applied to a study area in Hesse, Germany, in order to simulate the effects of changing conditions on land use, economic and social key indicators, and plant species richness. ProLand is a spatially explicit comparative static model that simulates a region’s land use pattern based on natural, socioeconomic, political, and technological parameters. The model assumes land rent maximizing behavior of land users. It calculates and assigns the land rent maximizing land use system for every investigated decision unit, generally a field. A land use system is characterized through crop rotation, corresponding outdoor operations, animal husbandry if applicable, and the relevant political and socioeconomic attributes. The fuzzy expert system derives the values of ecologically relevant parameters from several site specific attributes and land use operations. Land use dependent site characteristics that influence plant species richness are derived from predictions generated by ProLand. Detailed information on crop rotation, fertilization and pesticide strategy, and outdoor operations are considered. The expert system then classifies natural and land use dependent site characteristics into aggregate factors. Based on a set of rules it assigns the number of species to the classes and thus to the decision units. Simulation results for the study area show that the CAP reform causes a rise in grassland area. These land use changes mainly occur in areas currently used for arable farming but with natural conditions favoring grassland. Plant species richness is positively influenced by the increase in extensive grassland area. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p613&r=geo |
| By: | Stephane Hess |
| Abstract: | The analysis of air-passengers’ choices of departure airport in multi-airport regions is a crucial component of transportation planning in many large metropolitan areas, and has been the topic of an increasing number of studies over recent years. In this paper, we advance the state of the art of modelling in this area of research by making use of a Cross-Nested Logit (CNL) structure that allows for the joint representation of inter-alternative correlation along the three choice dimensions of airport, airline and access-mode. The analysis uses data collected in the greater London area, which arguably has the highest levels of inter-airport competition of any multi-airport region; the authors of this paper are not aware of any previous effort to jointly analyse the choice of airport, airline and access-mode in this area. The results of the analysis reveal significant influences on passenger behaviour by access-time, access-cost, flight-frequency and flight-time. A structural comparison of the different models shows that the cross-nested structure offers significant improvements over simple Nested Logit (NL) models, which in turn outperform the Multinomial Logit (MNL) model used as the base model. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p736&r=geo |
| By: | Schellenberg, Grant |
| Abstract: | This report looks at the distribution of recent immigrants in census metropolitan areas (CMAs), implications on public services in urban areas and the employment characteristics of immigrants. |
| Keywords: | Population and demography, Census of population |
| Date: | 2004–08–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp7e:2004003e&r=geo |
| By: | Guillaume Pouyanne |
| Abstract: | The influence of land use on daily mobility patterns can be described by the two dimensions of urban form : the first is quantitative, that is density, and the second is qualitative, that is land use mix. Empirical studies usually add control variables such as socio-demographic characteristics. They suppose that urban form factors and socio-demographic factors have a separate influence on travel patterns. In this paper, we first show the possibility of a causal relationship between urban form and socio-demographic characteristics. Thus previous results, which suppose that these two kinds of factors are separated, may be biased. As a consequence we provide a new, more complex conceptual framework, which is called the « triangular relationship ». It implies specific econometric methods to test the motives of mobility : typological regressions are used for an application on the metropolitan area of Bordeaux. First results show how relevant this method is for the study of the interactions between land use and travel patterns. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p84&r=geo |
| By: | Heisz, Andrew; Larochelle-Côté, Sébastien |
| Abstract: | The report examined the location of jobs in 27 census metropolitan areas, paying particular attention to developments in Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa-Hull, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. It also analysed the modes commuters used to travel to work, emphasising public transit and car (as driver or passenger) commute modes. While Canadian metropolitan areas continue to be characterized by a strong concentration of jobs in the downtown core, employment grew faster in the suburbs of Canada's largest metropolitan areas than in the city centres between 1996 and 2001. One characteristic of increasing employment in suburban locations is the shifting of manufacturing activities from the core of the city to the suburbs. Retail trade also shifted away from the central core towards more suburban locations. Relatively few workers employed outside the city centre commuted on public transit, rather, most drove or were a passenger in a car. This tendency to commute by car increased the farther the job was located from the city centre. Furthermore commute patterns have become more complex, with growth in suburb-to-suburb commutes outpacing traditional commute paths within the city centre, and between the city centre and suburbs. Commuters travelling from suburb to suburb were also much more likely to drive than take public transit. Despite the decentralization of jobs occurring in the metropolitan areas, public transit did not lose its share of commuters between 1996 and 2001. While more car traffic headed to jobs in the suburbs, a larger share of commuters heading for the city centre took public transit. This kept the total share of commuters who took public transit stable between 1996 and 2001. The report also found that jobs in the downtown core were higher skilled and higher paid, and that earnings increased faster for jobs in the city centre between 1996 and 2001. The report uses the 1996 and 2001 censuses of Canada. |
| Keywords: | Travel and tourism, Commuting |
| Date: | 2005–06–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp7e:2005007e&r=geo |
| By: | Izet Ibreljic; Salih Kulenovic |
| Abstract: | In wide region of South-Eastern Europe it has been notice even long ago that special attention must be given to a faster making of new creative and innovative regional structure of energetics which will made it possible for this geo-space to get incorporated in the energy structure of EU soon.However, in many documents done by foreign experts and institutions it is point out for that to happen it will take a long time. This topic is especially actual in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a country with the biggest reserve of coal in the region as well as with the biggest problem in a sphere of mining and energetics. In the paper that will be presented the mentioned task will be viewed in wider context of global development trends and process of restructuring not just energetics but also the entire economy in South-Eastern Europe and current process of rationalization of the European internal market of energy products. Certainly, in the focus of this paper will be environmental problem, which always follow these processes. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p134&r=geo |
| By: | Tanja Fleischhauer |
| Abstract: | Beginning with 1 January 2007 a new programming period of the European Structural Funds is going to start (2007-2013). The negotiations about the contents and the re-gional structure of the funds are still in progress, but the European Commission has al-ready published her thoughts in the Third Cohesion Report and in some draft regulations (KOM 2004/492; KOM 2004/493; KOM 2004/494; KOM 2004/495). Main elements of the Commission’s proposal are the concentration of funding for the least developed regions and Member States, the thematic concentration on the strategies of Lisbon and Gothenburg as well as institutional capacity building (KOM 2004: XXXVI). The Commission is willing to introduce a new priority (‘Regional Competitiveness and Employment’) as a successor of Objective 2 to strengthen the regional competitiveness and the employment. The new priority is following the Lisbon Strategy and therefore mainly promoting innovation and the knowledge society (ERDMENGER; ZIEGLER 2004: 327). Besides the textual change of the funding the Commission’s proposal is making clear, that the evaluation of structural funding is – as it has been in the past programming pe-riods – a necessary condition to achieve the quality standards of funding. This means that ex-ante-, mid-term- as well as ex-post-Evaluations remain obligatory (KOM 2004: XXXVII). At present a complete and consistent evaluation of the funding-effects can not necessar-ily take place, because of a lack of statistical information on the regional level as well as difficulties in comparing the regions’ funding achievements (z.B. TOEPEL 2000: 400; BEYWL; TAUT 2000: 359). These problems are especially true for the evaluation of innova-tion related actions, because the general problems are accumulated with problems of the measurability of innovation (PERRIN 2000: 5ff; DIEZ 2001: 912ff; AUTIO 1998: 132). If the plans of the commission happen to turn into law on 1 January 2007, the importance of Innovation related actions will increase as well as the political requirement to measure and value their effects. The goal of this paper is to contribute to an alternative concept to evaluate innovation related actions under the EU Structural Funds. Main differences between the present evaluation concept and the paper’s proposal point to problems, which were identified by two case studies of existing evaluations of innovation related actions. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p109&r=geo |
| By: | Dick Ettema; Aldrik Bakema; Harry Timmermans |
| Abstract: | It is increasingly recognised that land use change processes are the outcome of decisions made by individual actors, such as land owners, authorities, firms and households. As multi-agent models provide a natural framework for modelling urban processes on the level of individual actors, Utrecht University, Eindhoven University of Technology and RIVM are developing PUMA (Predicting Urbanisation with Multi-Agents), a full fledged multi-agent system of urban processes. PUMA consists of various modules, representing the behaviours of specific actors. The land conversion module describes farmers', authorities', investors' and developers' decisions to sell or buy land and develop it into other uses. The households module describes households' housing careers in relation to life cycle events (marriage, child birth, aging, job change etc.). The firms module includes firms' demography and their related demand for production facilities leading to location choice processes. The daily activity pattern module describes the trips made and locations visited by individuals to carry out certain tasks. This module generates aggregated effects of individual behaviours (congestion, pollution, noise), affecting households' or firms' longer term location decisions. The paper describes the model system architecture and the interactions between the modules. Particular attention is devoted to the households module that includes a behaviourally sophisticated model of households' process of awakening (deciding to actively search for another dwelling), search and acceptance of an offered dwelling. This model was calibrated on the Dutch Housing Preferences Survey. Based on the disaggregate housing search and acceptance model, the households module describes housing market dynamics and indicates the demand for new dwellings per region. The paper describes the model specification and calibration in detail. The households module was implemented and tested for the Northwing of the Dutch Randstad, including about 1.5 million households and 1.6 million dwellings. The paper describes the implementation and the first model results. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p281&r=geo |
| By: | Geiske Bouma; Mike Duijn; Henk Puylaert |
| Abstract: | This paper on the spatial impact study Railway Zone Breda describes a participatory SWOT-analysis for assessing the impact of a large scale innercity infrastructural project on adjacent residential neighborhoods in which residents and other stakeholders, policy officials of the municipality of Breda and researchers participated. This large infrastructural project includes the transformation of the present railway station into a shuttle station for the high speed train Amsterdam – Paris. The redevelopment of the Breda railway station will have undeniable impacts on the adjacent neighborhoods Belcrum and Spoorbuurt. For this reason the municipality of Breda decided to let the stakeholders in the neighbourhoods participate in the impact analysis. In the research process the emphasis was directed to the question what impacts the renewal could have for these neighborhoods. The inhabitants and businesses of those neighborhoods were divided in their opinions and expectations. Some of them mainly saw the positive side - they expected to gain by the new situation - but others stressed the potential dangers of the intended project, pointing at. Hence, the main research objectives were 1) to identify and analyze the current strengths and weaknesses of the neighborhoods, 2) to foresee / estimate the potential impacts of the large infrastructural transformation and the transformation (building) process on the adjacent neighborhoods, and 3) to identify the actions were needed to maximze the positive effects and minimize the negatieve effects. This case study narrates on a participatory policy analysis process (cf. Geurts & Mayer, 1996; Mayer, 1997) in which knowledge generation, exchange and application by the stakeholders mentioned, is combined with expert and practitioner’s knowledge to generate new insights (situated cognition, cf. Bredo, 1994) with a focus on future implementation on behalf of the policy making process that takes place in a local community network. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p155&r=geo |
| By: | Takahiro Akita; Sachiko Miyata |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the changing geographical pattern of manufacturing industries in Japan in the 1990s and explores factors of their geographical concentration. We start with an estimation of the geographical concentration of manufacturing industries using the coefficient of localization based on manufacturing employment and establishment data at the prefecture level. We then conduct a regression analysis to test some hypotheses of geographical concentration of manufacturing industries, which were derived from new theories of trade and economic geography that have been advanced by Fujita, Krugman, and Venables (1999). In the regression analysis, we consider the following three factors of geographical concentration: scale economies, transportation costs, and inter-industry linkages. We follow basically the approach used by Amiti (1998, 1999), which investigated the effects of scale economies and inter-industry linkages on the geographical concentration of manufacturing industries for EU countries using manufacturing employment and output data from EUROSTAT and UNIDO. As opposed to Amiti, we also consider transportation costs as a possible factor of geographical concentration. Furthermore, our analysis is based on regional data rather than country data. As a measure of plant-level scale economies, we use the ratio of total employment to the total number of establishments in each industry, while as a measure of the intensity of transportation costs, we use the ratio of intermediate transportation inputs to total inputs. To measure plant-level scale economies, we employ manufacturing data from the Statistics of Industry. On the other hand, to measure the intensity of transportation costs and inter-industry linkages, we use the national input-output tables. We expect that scale economies and inter-industry linkages have positive effects, while transportation costs have a negative effect, on the geographical concentration of manufacturing industries. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p195&r=geo |
| By: | Jan S. Kowalski; Axel J. Schaffer |
| Abstract: | In his article ‘What about People in Regional Science?’ Hägerstrand (1970) identifies time and space constraints as dominating determinants of each individual’s activity pattern. The paper at hand follows this idea, but considers the whole society’s accumulated time budget instead. Based on a Socio-Economic Input-Output Table (SIOT) in time and monetary) units, activity patterns of three age groups (<18 years; 18-65 years; >65 years) are analyzed in further detail. Since the applied concept allows for a simultaneous analysis of time use and time receipts, inter-generational linkages can be identified as well. Care activities, for example, often require time inputs from the middle age group (18-65 years). However, the beneficiaries belong in the majority to the young and the old age group. Obviously, the age groups’ activity patterns come along with specific mobility needs. Therefore, the second aim of the study is to identify mobility patterns – at an aggregated level – as well. Finally, the paper gives a first insight into potential changes of activity patterns and mobility patterns in particular, that could be initiated by the realization of a part-time-society. The latter is characterized by a strong reduction of individual (paid) working time, flexible time schedules and a strengthening of social activities. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p150&r=geo |
| By: | Edwin Van Gameren; Michiel Ras; Evelien Eggink; Ingrid Ooms |
| Abstract: | We investigate the effect of subsidies and levies on the behaviour of households on the Dutch housing market. Our primary interest lies in the effect on the tenure choice and on the levels of housing consumption for the whole population. The housing consumption level is not a priori defined. We chose a one-dimensional housing concept. Differences between market values may reflect differences in house characteristics, but may also stem from differences between markets. To find the ‘true’ levels of housing, we break up market values of houses into price and quantity, resulting in regional price indices for owner-occupied and rented houses separately. After correction for actual subsidies and levies (for the current tenure choice) and for imputed values (for the alternative choice), households face individually varying prices. We use a survey data set of about 60,000 Dutch households. Behaviour is estimated using a utility maximising consumption model with equations for both tenure choice and the consumption levels for owning respectively renting a house. The relation between choice and quantity is taken into account. The resulting price and income effects are in line with standard theory. Higher income gives a tendency towards owning rather than renting. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p327&r=geo |
| By: | Delia Davila Quintana; Santiago Rodriguez Feijoó; Alejandro Rodriguez Caro; Vanessa del Pino González García |
| Abstract: | The Canary Islands (one of Spain's 17 autonomous communities) is considered in the EC Treaty "ultra-peripheral region" which means: i) differences in the development processes and integration that justify certain specific policies (six out of the seven regions involved are among the poorest in the EU). This is related with remoteness, insularity, small size, difficult topography and climate, and the dependence on a small number of products; ii) the remoteness from the mainland countries and climatic conditions (tropical or subtropical) and, iii) the role of EU frontier and the geographical structure characterized by size and distance. With data of the Survey of Social Conditions (2001) we study the income inequality of individuals in The Canary Islands. Individuals are divided into various subgroups along several dimensions, such as island of residence, age, employment status etc. The difference in inequality between and within the various subgroups is studied using absolute-relative poverty line. We estimate poverty using a subjective approach too, where the level of the poverty line is derived using the opinion of the individual, rich or poor, on poverty. The subjective poverty line used is the Leyden Poverty Line based on subjective questions regarding income and economic welfare. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p667&r=geo |
| By: | Alex Deffner; Theodore Metaxas |
| Abstract: | European regions and cities have been, especially during the last twenty years, characterized by a plurality of efforts to define their vision, to construct their identity and to shape their images, in order to become more attractive and, consequently, competitive, and also to increase their market share in a globalized economy. Following this option, places have been elaborating and implementing particular competitive policies and strategic plans in order to attract the potential target markets (new investments, tourists, new residents etc). Shaping the vision concerns the identification of the sustainable development objectives that each place sets up in a long-term horizon. Furthermore, the vision is the first step of strategic planning implementation that a place has to follow in order to construct its identity and to produce its image as a ‘final provided good’. This paper investigates the relationship between vision, local identity and image, focusing on culture and tourism. The international bibliography shows several cases, mainly of European places, that support their competitiveness through cultural and tourism development. In addition, the majority of the implemented place marketing policies relate with culture and tourism. The primary aim of the paper is to present the ways with which the cultural image of a place as a ‘final provided good’, could be produced, supported and promoted effectively to the external environment. The secondary aim is to show under what conditions the promotion of this image could induce anticipated profits for a place in a long-term base. The data for this paper are provided by the INTERREG IIIc CultMark project (Cultural Heritage, Local Identity and Place Marketing for Sustainable Development, an project) that has been in operation in five European places during the last year: Nea Ionia/Magnesia/Greece, Paphos/Cyprus, Chester/UK, Rostock-Wismar/Germany and Kainuu/Finland – it has to be noted that the last four places relate directly with water. The main aim of the project is to create a final successful image for each place and for the study area as a whole. The paper presents a structural analysis of the project methodology and uses the available data in order to produce the ‘final provided good’ of each place. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p696&r=geo |
| By: | André De Palma; Fay Dunkerley; Stef Proost |
| Abstract: | In this paper we study the problem of a city that is surrounded by two shopping centres. The first has low transport costs but is easily congested (near city center, access by road). The second one has higher transport costs but is less prone to congested access (ample public transport capacity etc.). Each sub-centre attracts shoppers and employees by setting prices and wages that are sufficiently attractive. Competition is imperfect since the shopping centers are not located at the same point and because both jobs and products are imperfect substituted. Moreover, congestion induces additional distortions since it is not priced at marginal cost. The solution concept is Bertrand Nash (asymmetric duopoly game). This solution is typically characterised by excessive congestion, especially for the nearby sub-center, and by positive mark-up prices. We study the welfare effects of three stylised policies. The first policy entails the capacity extension of the road connecting the city center to sub-center 2. This policy will not necessarily lead to less congestion as more shoppers will be attracted by the lower transport costs. This result is reminiscent of the well known Braess paradox in transport economics. In our paper we add product differentiation and it will be the degree of product differentiation that will determine how successful the capacity extension policy is. The second policy envisaged entails the addition of congestion pricing (or parking pricing etc.) for the most congested sub-center. This will decrease its profit margin (see de Palma & Proost, forthcoming 2005) and will attract more shoppers. The third policy considers the addition of one (or several) more remote sub-centers. This is more like a subsidy type of policy that is more acceptable for politicians. This policy will again ease the congestion problem for the nearby sub-center, but such policies, which entail heavy investments, will be achieved at very high costs. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p494&r=geo |
| By: | Jesus Mur; Ana Angulo |
| Abstract: | The spatial Durbin model occupies an interesting position in Spatial Econometrics. It is the reduced form of a model with cross-sectional dependence in the errors, but it may be used, also, as the nesting model in a more general approach of model selection. In the first case, that is the equation where we solve the Likelihood Ratio test of Common Factors. The objective in this case is to discriminate between substantive and residual dependence in a misspecified equation. Its role, when discussing the specification of the model, is also of great value as a way to access either to a static model, to a dynamic model or to a model with residual dependence. Our paper tries to go further into the interpretation of this intermediate equation in both aspects. We include a small Monte Carlo study related to the LR tests and present some new results that expedites the use, and the interpretation, of the Durbin equation in the more general process of econometric model selection in a spatial context. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p392&r=geo |
| By: | Kostopoulos Tryfon |
| Abstract: | In this article we will attempt to analyse the dialectic relation of European economic integration under the prism of the European Union public finance. The course of European integration will be examined via the Community Budget. The vital question in our selected subject, seeking for a persuasive answer, is the relation of economic completion and unequal growth. It is, as we will prove, an ambiguous phenomenon. This ambiguity is consisted in the fact that the European integration process is developed in the base of social oppositions and is determined by the objecting interests of capital and labour. It is impossible to comprehend the European economic and political integration, outside the process of production internationalisation and supranational mechanisms of social classes regulation. In order to enlighten the relation between economy and policy, it is necessary to present extensively the public finances of the Union. Thus, we can achieve the necessary mediation between the European completion and the E.U. budgetary policy. For all the above reasons, we will proceed in a comparative analysis of the Community budget and that of the member states of the E.U. Furthermore, we will proceed to an analytic sectoral structure of the Community budget, where important redeployments in the Community financing are observed. Policies recede, like the Common Rural Policy, and policies are found in rise, as for example the European Regional Policy. We will emphasize in the critical question: how it is possible for the EU, having a budget which hardly comes to the 1% of the GNP of the European Union, to face the problem of regional inequalities, when the national budgets of the member states do usually exceed the 50% of GNP? We will mention the failure of the Intergovernmental Conference for the approval of the European Constitution (Brussels 2003) and the letter sent to the Community Chairman by «6» wealthy countries (Germany, France, Great Britain, Holland, Sweden, Austria) countries, which, as a rule, are supporting the Structural Funds of the Union. These countries request to reduce the Community Budget at the 0,8% of European GNP. Our discussion therefore is focused in the relation of the rich North and the poor South. In general, the rich countries, especially after the wreck of Intergovernmental Conference declare the “two speeds Europe”, wishing obviously to “punish” some poor countries like Poland. At this point, is also situated the interest of our own approach. The Community Budget investigation and in extension, his as much as possible increase, can confront the problems of unequal growth and bring a solution to the regional problem in the EU25. The “hard core” of the EU is in opposition to this perspective and counter proposes a “two speeds Europe”. The future seems uncertain. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p464&r=geo |
| By: | Sinan Zeyneloglu; Seda Kundak; Vedia Dokmeci |
| Abstract: | Since Zipf, research on rank-size distribution of settlements has generally dealt with the upper tail of the distribution. Previously Turkish rank-size distribution was examined only for the upper part by Dökmeci and others. Parr had pointed on the similarity between the log-normal distribution and the rank size distribution at the upper tail. Within this paper the whole dataset of Turkish settlements (over 36.000 units) is employed for the period 1980-2000, thus, an analysis with no threshold population is undertaken. The results reveal a lognormal distribution. Furthermore the rank-size distribution from 1927 until present is also examined using a threshold of 1.000 population. With every successive census, the convex distribution of 1927 gradually evolves into a linear distribution reaching the slope of unity at the 1990’s. For recent censuses there is a point of refraction at population size 2.000 which is the threshold population for municipal incorporation and it seems that the unnatural refraction is a sign of fraud in census caused by localities over-enumerating with the aim of municipal incorporation. Another focus is on proper delimitation of boundaries of settlements in order to eliminate the possible distortion caused by administrative boundaries irrelevant to the unity of settlements. Methods applying international standards of urban area delimitation to the Turkish context, urban-rural differentiation and proper selection of threshold figures are discussed. Also definitions of administrative units (provinces, districts) and settlement units (cities, towns, villages) are given for the Turkish legal system compared with other countries. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p330&r=geo |
| By: | Enrique López-Bazo; Rosina Moreno |
| Abstract: | Theoretical contributions to the literature have stressed the role of human capital in promoting economic growth. However, the empirical exercises have provided mixed evidence on the real effect of such type of capital. Most of the evidence has been obtained by estimating growth equations or production functions using samples of (heterogeneous) countries. In this paper, we report empirical evidence on the effects of human capital in the sample of Spanish regions. As they are supposed to be more homogeneous economies from an institutional, social and economic perspective, we assume that the evidence provide in this paper is a more robust measure of the real effects of human capital in stimulating the take off of lagging economies. We departure from the traditional empirical approach as our estimates come from the dual framework. This easily allows us to get not only the aggregate return to human capital, but also some other important measures such as its shadow price, that is the willingness to pay for an extra year of education of firm’s employees, and the degree of complementariety/substitutability with other types of capital. Results suggest that human capital has exerted a significant effect in the Spanish regions, which is stronger in the less developed ones. It not only have a direct effect but an indirect one by compensating the mechanism of decreasing returns to physical capital. Important conclusions for the assessment and design of regional development policies can be derived from such results. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p298&r=geo |
| By: | Heisz, Andrew |
| Abstract: | The "Trends and Conditions in Census Metropolitan Areas" series of reports provides key background information on Canadian census metropolitan areas (CMAs) for the period 1981 to 2001. Based primarily on census data, this series provides substantial information and analysis on several topics: low income, health, immigration, culture, housing, labour markets, industrial structure, mobility, public transit and commuting, and Aboriginal people. This final assessment summarizes the major findings of the eight reports and evaluates what has been learned. It points out that the series has three key contributions. First, it details how place matters. Census metropolitan areas differ greatly in many indicators, and their economic and social differences are important factors that define them. Accordingly, policy prescriptions affecting cities may need to reflect this diversity. Second, the series contributes substantially to the amount of data and analysis needed to make accurate policy assessments of what may be ailing in Canada's largest cities and where each problem is most acute. Third, it provides benchmarks against which future data 'most notably data from the 2006 Census' can be examined. This summary also briefly discusses some subjects which were not covered in the series, identifying these as data gaps, or areas where more research is needed. |
| Keywords: | Social conditions, Population and demography, Families, Population characteristics |
| Date: | 2005–09–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp7e:2005009e&r=geo |
| By: | Andreas Kopp |
| Abstract: | The paper investigates the productivity effects of national road infrastructure investment in Western Europe.The study makes use of newly available OECD/ECMT data showing a secular decline of productivity growth and of transport infrastructure investment. Infrastructure availability is modelled like an unpaid shadow factor allowing for more than constant aggregate returns to scale while firms operate with linear homogenous production functions, with transport as an input. Productivity increases are measured by the Toernquist index The link between road investment and macroeconomic productivity is studied using a new econometric technique to avoid the identification problem that discredited the early literature. The results show that there is no clear over- or underinvestment. The aggregate level of road investment seems to be such that the implied rate of return is close to the opportunity cost of private capital. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p631&r=geo |
| By: | John Bates |
| Abstract: | There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that drivers may make small changes in their time of travel to take advantage of lower levels of congestion. However, progress in modelling such “micro” re-scheduling within peak period traffic remains slow. While there exist research papers describing theoretical solutions, there are no techniques available for practical use. Most commonly used assignment programs are temporally aggregate, while packages which do allow some “dynamic assignment” typically assume a fixed demand profile. The aim of the paper is to present a more heuristic method which could at least be used on an interim basis. The assumption is that the demand profile can be demanded into a number of mutually exclusive “windows” in relation to the “preferred arrival time”, while on the assignment side, independently defined sequential “timeslices” are used in order to respect some of the dynamic processes relating to the build-up of queues. The demand process, whereby some drivers shift away from their preferred window, leads to an iterative procedure with the aim of achieving reasonable convergence. Using the well-known scheduling theory developed by Vickrey, Small, and Arnott, de Palma & Lindsey, the basic approach can be described, extending from the simple “bottleneck”, to which the theory was originally applied, to a general network. So far, insufficient research funds have been made available to test the approach properly. It is hoped that by bringing the ideas into the public domain, further research into this area may be stimulated. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p83&r=geo |
| By: | Heikki A. Loikkanen; Ilkka Susiluoto |
| Abstract: | Cost efficiency of basic welfare service provision in 353 Finnish municipalities in 1994-2002 is investigated. In a basically two tier public sector (central government and municipalities) the municipal sector has a central role in the Finnish economy as a provider of welfare services. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a non-parametric linear programming method is employed, calculating a best practise total cost frontier for the decision making units, and comparing the various DMUs with this frontier. The outputs consist of up to ten volume indicators of services in health, social and educational sector. As the combined input, total real production costs of these services is used. According to the results efficiency differences were considerable between the municipalities, and a small group of a peripheral municipalities scored clearly below the others. Also annual changes in cost efficiency were estimated. As a second stage, differences in the DEA cost efficiency scores were explained with statistical models. Here the explanatory variables included structural and demographic indicators of municipalities, their location and measures of political power at local level. According to the results several of these variables had an expected effect on cost efficiency. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p37&r=geo |
| By: | Anne Lorentzen |
| Abstract: | The paper discusseses the spatial dimensions of innovation in Polish manufacturing companies. The conceptual framework of the paper is an understanding of social networks as a potential resource of the company, whether they are internal or external. Whether the company benefits from the potential resources attached to the network depends on the capabilities characterising the firm in terms of qualifications, organisational characteristics and attitude towards employees and towards other firms. This again is not only determined by personal characteristics of the management and staff, but also by the common perceptions, and the institutional infrastructure prevailing in the (local) society. In Poland the latter is closely connected with the process of transition since 1990. The paper reports from a study among Polish manufacturing companies. It categorises the types of innovation prevailing in the companies and detects the role of networks in the innovation process of the companies. To what extend do the companies draw on external networks, on what points of the innovation process are the networks involved, what kind of networks are involved, and not least, what are the spatial characteristics of the networks (local, national international). Finally how can the network strategy of the companies be explained? What factors seem to determine an active involvement of networks and what other factors seem to explain a self-sufficient strategy of innovation? What is the spatial extension of the networks, and are there systematic differences in the spatial extension of the networks? Does the transitional situation of the Polish society seem to favour certain strategies of innovation? |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p312&r=geo |
| By: | Che, Janet; Ehrlich, Steven; Engeland, John; Lewis, Roger |
| Abstract: | The report examines housing market trends and housing adequacy, suitability, affordability, and core housing need in Canada's census metropolitan areas (CMAs) from 1991 to 2001. It begins with a review of demographic and housing market trends, including changes in house prices, rents, and incomes during the 1990s and of factors underlying increasing housing demand late in the decade. Against this backdrop, subsequent chapters examine how well households living in CMAs were housed in 1991, 1996, and 2001. Households that do not live in acceptable housing and do not have sufficient income to afford such housing are deemed to be in core housing need. The last chapter of the report explores the spatial distribution of core housing need in CMAs in 2001 and the characteristics of neighbourhoods in which core housing need was most prevalent. |
| Keywords: | Social conditions, Housing |
| Date: | 2005–01–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp7e:2004005e&r=geo |
| By: | Martina Kauffeld-Monz |
| Abstract: | Usually, analyses of knowledge spillovers, if not relying on aggregated data, are based either on surveys conducted with enterprises or on surveys conducted with research establishments. Comparative case studies on micro level that include both groups are rather the exception. Therefore the knowledge transfer mostly can be illustrated just for one of these groups. Moreover knowledge and information rarely are differentiated. The set of data used in this paper allows to overcome these weaknesses. Based on 23 innovation networks located in the eastern part of Germany, the knowledge and information transfer between almost 700 participants, which interacted during a period of 5 years, can be observed. Following the pattern of regional systems of innovation (RIS) within the dataset the distinction of certain groups of participants is arranged (e.g. manufacturing enterprises, service enterprises, universities, non-university research establishments). Their uniform and common reference system - the respective regional innovation network – can be seen as additional quality of the data. The first part of the paper focuses on the determinants of knowledge spillovers within these innovation networks. It is analyzed, in what respect the co-operation experiences and in particular the network experience of the participants have a relevance regarding the knowledge transfer. Beyond that it is examined whether network characteristics (e.g. the coherence of the network on the whole; strength of ties in detail) affect the knowledge transfer. It is also examined whether intensive contacts affect only the transfer of knowledge, or whether the intensity of contact equally shape the information flow. Finally it is analysed, if division of labour is connected with the range of knowledge transfer. In the second part of the paper empirical results are presented that demonstrate the central role played by public research institutions in the process of knowledge transfer. The results indicate that universities are adding most information and most knowledge within the networked process of innovation. The winners of knowledge exchange – considering absolute as well as relative profits – are the manufacturing enterprises. Further the results confirm the assumption that public research holds an “antenna function” (boundary spanning function) for the enterprises due to its integration into the international science community. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p440&r=geo |
| By: | Torben Holvad; John Preston |
| Abstract: | The paper examines the linkages between transport and the economy with particular focus on the basis for additionality of wider economic benefits from road transport infrastructure improvements. A major weakness of current appraisal practice of road transport infrastructure projects is its basis on partial equilibrium analysis. The partial equilibrium approach implies that the linkage from changes in the transport market is ignored creating the scope for a less than comprehensive consideration of all benefits and costs. The importance of ignoring other markets in transport appraisal has been subject to much analysis in the available literature: A key research question is whether such wider economic impacts are additional to the time and cost savings generated from transport policy interventions. The key condition under which wider economic effects are additional to a standard CBA is the extent to which the economy departs from the economic model of perfect competition. If imperfect competition dominates then it is possible that the wider economic effects can be additional to the CBA result. The context in which perfect competition is not a valid assumption involves imperfectly competitive output and input markets and/ or existence of subsidies and taxes. Furthermore, external costs such as air pollution or congestion from the transport sector as well as from economic activities across the different sectors can influence the CBA result. Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models represent a possible solution to the problem of partial equilibrium analysis. The paper will review available theoretical and empirical evidence of how road transport improvements are linked to the wider economy including the possibility for addditionality. It will re-assess the role of Computable General Equilibrium models in measuring these additional benefits. Finally, it will consider the feasibility of examining the additional benefits that Britain’s motorway network has brought to the national economy. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p522&r=geo |
| By: | Paul Courtney; Denis Lépicier; Bertrand Schmitt |
| Abstract: | Small and medium-sized towns have traditionally formed an integral part of the agricultural sector and wider rural economy, acting as a source of farm inputs, a first destination of farm outputs and as a source of consumer goods and services to farm households. In recent years, this relationship has been substantially eroded through processes socio-economic restructuring, including the transformation of agriculture and a decline in other primary industries. Further, a number of endogenous and exogenous drivers have resulted in the uneven development of rural economies throughout Europe, leading not only to disparities but also to decline of small and medium sized towns as thriving economic and service centres. As a result, these settlements have received increasing attention from policy makers aiming to both maintain the traditional socio-economic fabric of rural areas, and to stimulate rural development through territorial, as opposed to sectoral – and namely agricultural – approaches. This paper considers these two issues through an analysis of local economic linkages in and around small and medium-sized towns. Using primary data collected in a study of thirty towns across five European countries, the paper examines the degree to which local firms and farms are integrated into the local economies of such towns relative to other sectors, and identifies the organisational characteristics associated with strong and weak local integration. The implications of the findings are discussed in the context of evolving European rural development policy. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p128&r=geo |
| By: | Wu Zhigang; Zhou Suhong; Feng Changchun |
| Abstract: | There appears bran-new models of land use development which is not entirely in accord with national policy in China, especially in the rapid urbanization zone. It results from the conflicts between the active two-system of land use policy and the rapid development of society and economy in these areas. Although it disobeys the national law of land use in some aspects, this phenomenon reveals the irrationality on the active land policy, which has to be reformed for the urban sustainability. After summarizing and analysing the typical models of land use development of the rapid urbanization areas in the Pearl-river Delta metropolitans, the paper gives some conclusions and some suggestions for land policy reform in the future. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p442&r=geo |
| By: | Raffaello Bronzini; Guido De Blasio |
| Abstract: | Since the second half of the ’90s, investment incentives channelled through the Law 488 have represented the main policy instrument for reducing territorial disparities in Italy. From 1996 to 2003, the total amount of funds distributed to industrial firms has accounted for 16 billion of euro, involving 27,846 financed projects, mainly in southern regions. The Law 488 allows firms willing to invest in lagged areas to receive a public subsidy that covers a fraction of the investment outlays. The incentives are assigned through competitive auctions according to pre-determined specific criteria, such as the proportion of own funds invested in the project; the number of jobs involved and the value of assistance sought as a proportion of the maximum award rate applicable to the project. This paper aims at evaluating the impact of Law 488 subsidies on firms’ investment by using the econometric tools of program evaluation. We employ a unique dataset provided by the Italian Ministry of Industry, which records all the firms that have requested the grants (either subsidised or non subsidised firms), and match these data with the balance sheet information from the Company Account Data Service for the period 1994-2001. Our matched dataset allows us to evaluate whether the Law 488 made it possible investments that otherwise would not have been done. In doing so, we tackle two issues that have plagued the empirical analyses so far. First, we analyse the extent to which investments have been triggered by intertemporal substitution. In expectation of the introduction of the Law 488 firms could have postponed (anticipated) investment projects originally planned for the pre (post) Law 488 period. Second, we study the role of cross-sectional substitution. Subsidised firms could have taken some of the investment opportunities that non subsidised firm would have got in absence of the incentives. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p649&r=geo |
| By: | Amnon Frenkel; Maya Ashkenazi |
| Abstract: | Measuring urban sprawl is a controversial topic among scholars who investigate the urban landscape. In fact, most researchers agree that sprawl is a complex phenomenon, and moving from “sprawl” to “compact” form is more likely to be a direction on a continuum rather than a fixed and measurable category. This study attempts to measure sprawl in Israel from a landscape perspective. The measures and indices used in the study derive from various research disciplines, such as urban research, ecological research, and fractal geometry. Five main groups of indices that quantify the urban landscape were included in the research: density, shape/fractals, leapfrog, mean patch size, and land-use composition. The examination was based on an urban land-use survey that was performed in 78 urban settlements over the course of 15 yeas. Thirteen measures of sprawl were calculated at each settlement and then weighted into one integrated sprawl index through factor analysis. The calculations were performed for the beginning and the end of the period investigated, thus enabling a description of sprawl rates and their dynamics during a time period of two decades. The results show that urban sprawl is a multidimensional phenomenon that is better quantified by various measures; thus, it cannot be measured by only one or two popular measures, such as density or growth rates, as often is done in many urban studies. In addition, the results indicate that most urban settlements in Israel showed less sprawling and became more compact during the past two decades: density and mean patch-size measures became higher; shape, fractal, and leapfrog measures became lower; and land-use composition did not dramatically change during the period investigated. Furthermore, some measures were found to be more dominant and effective and others less effective on a municipal scale. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p50&r=geo |
| By: | Andrew Daly; James Fox; Jan Gerrit Tuinenga |
| Abstract: | For many cities, regions and countries, large-scale model systems have been developed to support the development of transport policy. These models are intended to predict the traffic flows that are likely to result from assumed exogenous developments and transport policies affecting people and businesses in the relevant area. The accuracy of the model is crucial to determining the quality of the information that can be extracted as input to the planning and policy analysis process. A frequent approach to modelling, which can substantially enhance the accuracy of the model, is to formulate the model as predicting changes relative to a base-year situation. Often, base-year traffic flows can be observed rather accurately and the restriction of the model to predicting differences reduces the scope for errors in the modelling – whether they be caused by errors in the model itself or in the inputs to the model – to influence the outputs. Such approaches are called ‘pivot point’ methods, or sometimes incremental models. The approaches have proved themselves beneficial in practical planning situations and now form part of the recommended ‘VaDMA’ (Variable Demand Modelling Advice) guidelines issued by the UK Department for Transport. While the principle of the pivot point is clear, the implementation of the principle in practical model systems can be done in a number of ways and the choice between these can have substantial influence on the model forecasts. In particular modellers need to consider: 1.whether the change predicted by the model should be expressed as an absolute difference or a proportional ratio, or whether a mixed approach is necessary; 2.how to deal with apparently growth in ‘green-field’ situations when applying these approaches; 3,at what level in the model should the pivoting apply, i.e. at the level of mode choice, destination choice, overall travel frequency or combinations of these; 4,whether the pivoting is best undertaken as an operation conducted on a ‘base matrix’ or the model is constructed so that it automatically reproduces the base year situation with base year inputs. The paper reviews the alternative approaches to each of these issues, discussing current practice and attempting to establish the basis on which alternative approaches might be established; in particular, whether pivoting is treated as a correction to a model which is in principle correctly specified but incorporates some error, perhaps from faulty data, or as a partial replacement for a model that handles at best part of the situation. These views of the pivoting lead to different procedures. It goes on to present and justify the approach that the authors have found useful in a number of large-scale modelling studies in The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and elsewhere, pointing out the problems that have led to the calculations that are recommended. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p784&r=geo |
| By: | Marco Alderighi; Alessandro Cento; Peter Nijkamp; Piet Rietveld |
| Abstract: | Airlines network choices are analysed to describe the co-existence of alternative business models: the full service model based on the hub-and-spoke (HS) system and the low cost model based on point-to-point (PP) system. The analysis is carried on both theoretically and empirically. In the theoretical part, we show that the rise of the low costs business model can be the consequence of a simple two-player game. When two carriers compete in designing their network configurations (HS or PP), asymmetric equilibria emerge, i.e. one carrier will choose HS and the other PP. Full service carriers are stuck to a HS configuration to serve intercontinental destinations, whilst non-flag carriers implement a point-to-point network. In the second part, the recent network evolution in Europe is empirically evaluated by means of different spatial measures of concentration, such as Gini index, Freeman centrality index and Bonacich centrality. In addition, we also provide an airline-specific measure of centrality based on scheduled time comparison of direct to one-stop services. Spatial measures of centrality capture a reduction of centrality in non-flag carriers and small changes in the network centrality of flag carriers. Indeed, the time-based measure of centrality suggests an increase of centrality of flag carriers. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p703&r=geo |
| By: | Timmins, Christopher; Lall, Somik V.; Carvalho, Alexandre |
| Abstract: | Large and sustained differences in economic performance across regions of developing countries have long provided motivation for fiscal incentives designed to encourage firm entry in lagging areas. But empirical evidence in support of these policies has been weak at best. The authors undertake a direct evaluation of the most prominent fiscal incentive policy in Brazil, the Fundos Constitucionais de Financiamento (Constitutional Funds). In doing so, they exploit valuable features of the Brazilian Ministry of Labor ' s RAIS data set to address two important elements of firm location decisions that have the potential to bias an assessment of the funds: (1) firm " family structure " (in particular, proximity to headquarters for vertically integrated firms), and (2) unobserved spatial heterogeneity (with the potential to confound the effects of the funds). The authors find that the pull of firm headquarters is very strong relative to the constitutional funds for vertically integrated firms, but that, with nonparametric controls for time invariant spatial heterogeneity, the funds provide significant incentives for firms in many of the targeted industries. |
| Keywords: | Economic Theory & Research,Scientific Research & Science Parks,Science Education,Technology Industry,Private Participation in Infrastructure |
| Date: | 2006–02–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:3843&r=geo |
| By: | Marius Thériault; Paul Y. Villeneuve; Marie-Hélène Vandersmissen; François Des Rosiers |
| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to assess differences on homeworking and teleworking behaviour among genders considering age groups, professional statuses, household structures and car access. The analysis is based on a sample of more than 30,000 workers responding to the 2001 origin-destination (O-D) survey data in Quebec City (Canada). Moreover, this paper puts specific emphasis on linking those differences in behaviour to the location of workplaces related to living places of the respondents. During the O-D survey, every worker was asked to disclose the frequency of homeworking and teleworking he/she was experiencing during the preceding weeks. Answers were later aggregated into six categories: never working at home (88.4% of respondents), working at home 1 day per two weeks or less (4.8%), 1 day per week (1.7%), 2 or 3 days per week (1.2%), 4 days or more per week (0.7%), always working at home (3.2% – homeworkers). However, those patterns show significant differences among genders (higher proportion of females are working entirely at home; higher proportion of males are occasionally working at home), age groups (younger workers seldom work at home and the proportion of teleworker increases with age – about 16% among the 55-64 years old and 27% among the elderly) and professional status (proportion of teleworkers is strongly related to qualifications and decisional status of the person, yielding higher levels of teleworking for managers, self-employed persons, professors and lawyers than for office clerks, technicians and non-qualified workers). This last relationship is very strong suggesting that job empowerment (especially ability to control time schedule) is of paramount importance for the development of teleworking. However, having higher family constraints, lone parents are seeking more flexibility on their work agenda: 12% are experiencing some level of teleworking on top of 3% of them which are homeworkers. Again, the difference appears more significant among male than among female workers, suggesting again a better control of the first group on their work schedule. Moreover, owning a driver license or holding a bus pass does not have the expected effect on teleworking: car drivers are working at home more frequently than other people; conversely 92% of bus users are going to their work place every weekday, leaving a mere 8% to teleworking and homeworking. Significant differences appear when considering workplaces and home locations within the city. People working near the city centre are more willing than others to consider teleworking, people living in the suburban areas show higher levels of homeworking. Finally, significant differences of travel time from home to work were found among various categories of teleworkers and homeworkers. Preliminary results suggest that the development of teleworking could be highly rooted to labour market and household structures as well as to the urban form. Urban sprawl is probably impeding development of teleworking, at least for Quebec City. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p141&r=geo |
| By: | Veronique Van Acker; Frank Witlox |
| Abstract: | Theories on the reciprocal relationship between land-use and transport address changes in locational decisions and travel behavior of private actors (households and firms) due to alternations in the transport system, respectively land-use system. Although the impact of land-use system on travel behaviour (transport system) has been the subject of much research (for reviews, see, e.g. Handy, 2002; Stead and Marshall, 2001; Crane, 2000; Wegener and Fürst, 1999), there is still no consensus about the strength of this relationship. This may be caused by different types of variables whether or not included in the research. Initially only land-use variables were taken into account, but nowadays socio-economical variables are also incorporated. Still, within ‘homogeneous groups’, there may be attitudes, lifestyles, perceptions, and preferences which can have an impact on land-use and/or travel behaviour. Academic literature on the latter remains scarce and the main focus of the existing behavioural literature is the impact of residential location on travel choices, especially modal choice. However, little work has thus far been done on other dimensions of travel choices (e.g., distance, time) and other location types (e.g., commercial, industrial, recreational). Less is known about the reverse relationship, e.g. the impact of the transport system on location decisions of households and firms (land-use system). A difference in time-scale can be the reason for this. Transformations in land-use occur much slower (years) compared to transformations in travel behaviour (days, weeks, months). In this paper we explore several possibilities to fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge on the land-use/transport system. Understanding the two-way interaction between land-use and travel behaviour involves having (i) data on land-use patterns, socio-economic background of individuals and their attitudes, perceptions and preferences towards land-use and travel; and (ii) a methodology, dealing with potential multiple directions of causality. The first issue can be achieved by combining empirical, revealed and stated preference research. The second methodological question can be solved using structural equation modelling (SEM). This is a modelling technique which can handle a large number of endogenous and exogenous variables. Because of the multiple directions of causality that can be explored, SEM can help us to define the relationship between revealed preference data and stated preference data. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p601&r=geo |
| By: | Hou, Feng; Bourne, Larry S. |
| Abstract: | This study examines trends in the internal migration of the Canadian-born and long-term immigrants into and out of Canada's three largest metropolitan areas. |
| Keywords: | Population and demography, Social conditions, Migration, Social behaviour |
| Date: | 2004–09–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp3e:2004229e&r=geo |
| By: | Stephen Roper; Nola Hewitt-Dundas |
| Abstract: | Innovation grants are a ubiquitous feature of industrial support regimes across the industrial world. Evidence on their effectiveness is less widespread, however, due to a lack of consistent longitudinal or panel data on innovation outcomes and company performance. In this paper we investigate the effectiveness of R&D and innovation grants support in Ireland and Northern Ireland using panel data and a sample selection approach to the modelling of grant impacts. The study is based on the Irish Innovation Panel which provides panel data on the innovation activities of manufacturing firms in Ireland and Northern Ireland over the 1991-2002 period. The use of panel data allows us to investigate the medium to long-term effect of innovation grant support. In other words, we are able to identify whether the receipt of an innovation grant merely increases innovation activity in the short-term or has any lasting effect on either innovation capability or firms’ technological trajectory. The latter outcome is clearly desirable for any region or nation seeking to use innovation grants as a means of boosting long term competitiveness. The use of a sample selection approach allows us to identify separately the ‘selection’ and ‘assistance’ elements of the impact of any innovation grant. In other words, it allows us to control for the positive effects of any targeting of assistance on more innovative or better performing companies and isolate the ‘true’ effect of any innovation grant. To our knowledge this is the first time this approach has been used to assess the impact of innovation grant support although the technique has been used by the authors in a previous analysis of small business assistance. Our results suggest very different time profiles in terms of the benefits from product and process innovation grants suggesting alternative managerial and regional development strategies. Grant support is also found to have strong positive effects on innovation activity even allowing for a wide range of conditioning effects. Our results therefore suggest the continued value of innovation grant support as an element of regions’ industrial support regimes. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p478&r=geo |
| By: | Bordt, Michael; Das, Sudip; Heisz, Andrew; Larochelle-Côté, Sébastien |
| Abstract: | The report examines employment, unemployment, work activity, earnings, industrial structure, industry concentration and diversity, and human capital and population growth due to immigration and inter-CMA mobility in Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) between 1981 and 2001. Employment and unemployment rates of Census Metropolitan Area residents in 2001 were at similar levels as twenty years earlier. This despite major changes in the structure of urban economies and in particular the declining importance of manufacturing, and rising employment of business services industries. The labour market strength of Canada's largest urban areas varied tremendously in 2001, although the difference between the CMAs with the strongest and weakest labour markets had declined since 1981. Immigrants, low-paid workers and young workers lost ground in the labour market between 1981 and 2001. Over the same period women made gains in employment and earnings relative to men. University degree holders were highly concentrated in CMAs in 2001. Recent immigrants made a substantial contribution to the growth in the human capital pool in some CMAs between 1996 and 2001. Many small CMAs lost highly educated and young persons to larger CMAs over the same period. The report uses the 1981, 1991, and 2001 censuses of Canada, and the 1987-2003 Labour Force Survey. |
| Keywords: | Labour, Population and demography, Labour force characteristics, Population characteristics |
| Date: | 2005–04–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp7e:2005006e&r=geo |
| By: | Nola Hewitt-Dundas; Bernadette Andreosso-O'Callaghan; Helena Lenihan |
| Abstract: | Systemic thinking on innovation policy highlights the breadth of policies which can influence innovation e.g. skills, inward investment, enterprise, regulation and competition policy. This suggests that innovation policy must be examined holistically, both in terms of the framework conditions to promote innovation as well as in terms of more targeted or specific policy to promote innovation at the enterprise level e.g. financial incentives to enterprises. It has been suggested that national innovation policy tends to reinforce the strengths of a country’s industrial system, particularly in relation to large firms and the promotion of R&D in core technologies and focuses less on innovation transfer which is often left to regional technological policy initiatives. In lagging regional economies, which are often dominated by SME’s, this presents specific challenges for innovation policy. This paper presents a comparative analysis of innovation policy at both the national and regional levels in Ireland and Northern Ireland respectively, over the 1990s. In both Ireland and Northern Ireland the period from 1991-99 was marked by expansion as measured by steady output growth for manufacturing as a whole (albeit at substantially lower levels in Northern Ireland than in Ireland). In Ireland this largely reflected rapid economic growth of output in the high-tech sectors, itself a consequence of inward investment and re-investment. Despite growth in gross expenditure on R&D over the 1990s closely related to output growth, Ireland’s investment in R&D (at 0.95% of GNP) lags behind Slovenia, Norway, the UK, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, the US and Japan. This paper assesses the role of national innovation policy in Ireland and regional innovation policy in Northern Ireland. A number of issues are addressed, such as; to what extent did innovation policy in Ireland and Northern Ireland merely sustain prevailing economic strengths or was it instrumental in overcoming specific deficiencies in R&D investment and moulding current economic strengths? What effect does the underlying industrial structure have in shaping innovation policy in terms of industrial sectors, ownership and the size distribution of firms? What differences are evident between national innovation policy initiatives and regional innovation initiatives, particularly in a lagging region? Innovation policy is examined in terms of targeted assistance i.e. direct government financial support for business sector investment in R&D. This is based on a database of all grant offers (Northern Ireland) and payments (Ireland) made by the industrial development agencies in Ireland and Northern Ireland over the 1991 to 2001 period which was developed for this paper. The paper emphasises issues concerning the concentration of R&D investment, change in the balance between pre-competitive and near market R&D and the move towards financial incentives for innovation transfer of R&D. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p606&r=geo |
| By: | Amit Batabyal; Basudeb Biswas |
| Abstract: | The notion of a reservation value is a key feature of most contemporary dynamic and stochastic models of land development. It is clear that the magnitude of the reservation value has a fundamental bearing on the decision to develop or preserve land. This notwithstanding, many papers that analyze land development in a dynamic and stochastic setting treat a landowner’s reservation value as an exogenous variable. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to endogenize the reservation value in the context of a model of land development over time and under uncertainty. Our analysis shows that the optimal reservation value is the solution to a specific maximization problem. In addition, we also show that there exist theoretical circumstances in which the optimal reservation value is unique. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p163&r=geo |
| By: | Geoffrey Hewings; Chokri Dridi; Joaquim Guilhoto |
| Abstract: | The present paper explores the role of water and energy resource constraints and allocation on the Northeast Brazil economy. The analysis centered on the creation of an intergrated model in which an econometric-input-output model was linked with a linear programming optimization model for resource allocation. Over the period 1999-2012, the impact on the six agricultural sectors was to reduce their output and employment by 15% annually. The reduction in employment in the rest of the economy was a little over 1% annually. However, since the agricultural sectors continue to employ a significant percentage of the labor force, the aggregate loss of employment amounted to 6% of the total regional employment on average, translating into 1 million jobs annually. When water allocation and energy resource allocations are considered simultaneously, the re-allocations are more limited, resulting in a loss of 0.78 million jobs annually. These results suggest the need for an active link between policy making and economic development when resource constraints are present. Some balance has to be provided between allocation and reallocation on the one hand perhaps driven by concerns with economic efficiency against anticipated losses of employment for part of the labor force with few other alternatives. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p14&r=geo |
| By: | Hild-Marte Bjørnsen |
| Abstract: | The liberalisation of trade with building down of tariffs and quotas, and with subsequently lower output prices, has enforced considerable structural changes in the agricultural sector. In Norway, both naturally given factors such as climate and topography, and social conditions such as a tradition for small family farms and strong governmental regulations, contribute in making this process even harder on the individual farmer. So how do the farmers respond? National farm statistics show that the amount of cultivated land stays approximately the same even though the number of farm units and agricultural employment falls annually. This implies that both farm size and productivity have increased. In this paper we utilise sample survey data on living conditions in agricultural households to examine whether we can observe changes in farmers ’experienced utility. Have contentment dropped and are there any obvious regional differences in contentment? The data consists of non-overlapping cross-sections for the years 1995 and 2002 and we make use of a standard ordered probability model in the estimations. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p95&r=geo |
| By: | Oscar Villar; Esther Vayá |
| Abstract: | At the present time, controversy still surrounds the importance of the financial integration of markets and its possible consequences. The fact that the economy is more global means that countries are more interdependent on each other. This brings new advantages, but also entails new dangers for countries. In this paper we study one of these dangers: financial contagion in times of crisis. In general terms, this is understood as the transmission or propagation of disturbances between the financial markets of different countries. However, this debate on the benefits and risks of economic interdependence also draws attention to problems that are both very old and very new. The problems are new because of the impact of globalization, but old because they are based on economic and political visions and ideologies that always remain the same. In this paper we present new ideas on the current debate on financial contagion. Specifically, we identify the economic variables that represent the crises in the Thai, Russian and Brazilian cases. We ask whether the cause of contagion between countries is the fact that their main macro economic magnitudes or economic fundamentals are at critical levels (commonly considered as the fundamentals of countries), or if, on the other hand, contagion between countries takes place due to trade and financial links and political or regional effects. Various methodological approaches have been used to explore the existence of contagion and the relative importance of the possible channels of transmission of crises (or channels of contagion). In recent years authors have sought to identify the econometric techniques that are best suited to conducting this kind of analysis. Indeed, one of the innovations of this paper is its implementation of Spatial Econometrics as a mechanism for assessing contagion. Unlike the other methodologies used, Spatial Econometrics allows an expression of international relations under explicit dynamic-spatial assumptions. Surprisingly, this technique has not been used previously for the analysis of contagion, and indeed few authors have used it in the study of financial relations in general. Firstly, in this paper we perform an exploratory spatial analysis which contrasts the existence of contagion or spatial autocorrelation. Secondly, we try to assess different channels of contagion through a model based on spatial econometric which would let us realize a confirmatory analysis. The study of an explicit dependency between the countries using this econometric technique may open up a new field of research in financial interdependence relations. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p574&r=geo |
| By: | Rossella Murgolo |
| Abstract: | Setting fees in transport service has always been particularly important in economy both under a theoretical point of view and for the aims economic policies have to achieve by means of this instrument. In this view, the issue of the European Commission Green Book in 1997 - on ports and sea infrastructures - and that of the White Book in 1998 - referring to a fair set of fees to exploit infrastructures with an approach in stages in an UE context - led again to the debate on criteria to set transport infrastructures fees, particularly for ports. This paper aims to find a motion to review taxation on shipped and unloaded goods (art. 13, paragraph 1, letter c), act of 28th January 1994, no. 84) effective in the Brindisi port, Apulia, determined with ordinance no. 1/1999. Tax revision will occur referring to last years ISTAT indexes and considering the possibility of a higher levy to Harbour Authority necessary to improve services for passengers and goods movement. Variables of port fees will be set both for passengers and goods handling. Moreover, estimating transport demand elasticity in relation to price (fee) is essential to set fees variation. To set fees other ports taxes – comparable and/or competitor with the Brindisi port - will be taken into account together with the increase in management operational costs expected in 2004. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p639&r=geo |
| By: | Silviya Draganinska; Ruediger Wink |
| Abstract: | Many scientific papers deal with the relevance of geographical proximity for the generation, acquisition and exploitation of new knowledge. SME in medium technology sectors serve as typical examples for firms, which are dependent on geographical proximity to sales markets and knowledge, as they have only limited resources for international knowledge strategies and need only incremental improvements integrated within tacit routine-based knowledge due to the maturity of their technologies. Increasing internationalisation of production systems, how-ever, challenges geographically concentrated firms, and many policy initiatives and regional agencies have been introduced to help SME to extend their scope of knowledge flows. The paper will present a theoretical model on institutional prerequisites for SME to overcome the need for geographical proximity in the context of innovation and learning. The model is based on innovation system and knowledge management approaches but extend these approaches to evolutionary institutional processes including the role of cognitive patterns and trust. First empirical results of investigating a cluster in the German machinery sector will be used to proof the suitability of the theoretical model and to discuss policy recommendations on the national and supranational level. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p381&r=geo |
| By: | Nigel C. O'Leary (WELMERC, University of Wales Swansea); Peter J. Sloane (WELMERC, University of Wales Swansea and IZA Bonn) |
| Abstract: | Earlier papers have found considerable heterogeneity in the returns to degrees in relation to subjects of study, degree classification and higher education institution. In this paper we examine heterogeneity of returns across British regions using the Labour Force Survey. We find substantial variations in the financial rewards available to graduates across regions with much higher returns in London and the South East than elsewhere, although adjusting for regional differences in the cost-of-living narrows such differences considerably. Decompositional analysis, after controlling for regional differences in both occupational and industrial structures, suggests that coefficient effects dominate composition effects, consistent with agglomeration effects being important. These results have implications for the recent changes to student funding in England, Scotland and Wales. |
| Keywords: | education, degree, rates of return, regions |
| JEL: | A22 A23 I21 J31 R1 |
| Date: | 2006–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp1947&r=geo |
| By: | Pascal Mossay (Universidad de Alicante) |
| Abstract: | We consider the core-periphery model by Krugman (1991). The nature and stability of the possible steady states of the model have been made progressively precise, see Fujita et al. (1999) and Baldwin et al. (2003). In that model as well as in all the new economic geography models that have been derived from it, the short-run (instantaneous) equilibrium is implicitly determined by the current labor distribution across regions. The numerical computations used so far to determine the short-run equilibrium, tend to suggest its existence. In this work, an existence and uniqueness proof of short-run equilibrium is provided. |
| Keywords: | core-periphery, economic geography, fixed point F12, R12, R23, C62 |
| JEL: | F12 R12 R23 C62 |
| Date: | 2005–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ivi:wpasad:2005-37&r=geo |
| By: | Heisz, Andrew; McLeod, Logan |
| Abstract: | The report examines income and low income in census metropolitan areas between 1980 and 2000. It examines the situation of families and the neighbourhoods they live in. It also examines the situation of recent immigrants, Aboriginal people and lone-parent family members. Median pre-tax income rose in virtually all Canadian census metropolitan areas (CMAs) over the 1980 to 2000 period. Incomes increased at both the top and bottom of the income distribution, but tended to rise faster at the top. In nearly all cities, income increased faster in the higher income neighbourhoods - measured at the census tract (CT) level - than it did in lower income neighbourhoods. The incidence of low income was at similar levels in 1980 and 2000, but the demographic composition of low income changed, reflecting rising low-income rates among some 'at-risk' groups, as well as demographic changes in the CMA. By 2000, recent immigrants comprised more of the low-income population, and a greater share of the residents in low-income neighbourhoods than they did in 1980. Recent immigrants had much higher low-income rates in 2000 than in 1980. In 2000, Aboriginal people and people in single-parent families had much higher low-income rates than others and were over-represented in low-income neighbourhoods. The share of income that low-income families received from government transfers rose over the period. The location of low-income neighbourhoods changed in some CMAs, reflecting a decline in low-income neighbourhoods in the city centre and a rise in low-income neighbourhoods in more suburban areas. The report examines before-tax income in CMAs using the 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996 and 2001 censuses of Canada. |
| Keywords: | Social conditions, Personal finance and household finance, Population and demography, Families, Income, Population characteristics |
| Date: | 2004–04–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp7e:2004001e&r=geo |
| By: | Robert Dur (Tinbergen Institute, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and CESifo, Munich. Department of Economics H 8-15, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. dur@few.eur.nl, Phone: +31104082159, Fax: +31104089161); Klaas Staal (Center for European Integration Studies, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn and Tinbergen Institute, Erasmus University Rotterdam. kstaal@uni-bonn.de) |
| Abstract: | We analyze a simple model of local public good provision in a country consisting of a large number of heterogeneous regions, each comprising two districts, a city and a village. When districts remain autonomous and local public goods have positive spillover effects on the neighboring district, there is underprovision of public goods in both the city and the village. When districts consolidate, underprovision persists in the village (and may even become more severe), whereas overprovision of public goods arises in the city as urbanites use their political power to exploit the villagers. From a social welfare point of view, inhabitants of the village have insufficient incentives to vote for consolidation. We examine how national transfers to local governments can resolve these problems. |
| Keywords: | local public goods, municipal consolidation, voting, intergovernmental transfers |
| JEL: | D7 H2 H7 R5 |
| Date: | 2006–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:trf:wpaper:86&r=geo |
| By: | Peter W. De Langen |
| Abstract: | The quality and availability of labour is essential for the economic performance of clusters. The availability of labour in clusters is superior compared to locations outside clusters, because labour is more mobile in clusters, education services in clusters are better and employees in clusters have a higher willingness to invest in specific skills. These effects arise ‘spontaneously’, as a result of ‘market forces’. Apart, from these effects, in some clusters, firms and governments also actively aim to improve the quality of the labour pool in the cluster. Clusters differ in the extent to which relevant stakeholders manage to invest in the quality of the labour pool. Thus, superior ‘organising capacity’ is a potential source of competitive advantage of a cluster vis-à-vis other clusters. This paper presents an analysis of these efforts of firms and governments to improve the quality of the labour force in three seaport clusters. The concept of a ‘training and education regime’ is used to analyse efforts of firms and governments to improve the labour pool. The results of three case studies of port clusters lead to a number of conclusions. First, the assumption that the quality of training and education regime differs substantially per cluster is validated. Second, the presence of a ‘regime manager’ adds to the quality of Rotterdam’s training and education regime. Such an organisation may be effective across countries and clusters. Finally, the presence of leader firms, willing to invest in training and education improves an education regime. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p61&r=geo |
| By: | Menno Van der Veen; Willem Korthals Altes |
| Abstract: | Differences between the legal systems of common law and civil law have attained attendance in the economic literature of “the new comparative economics” (Djankov et al, 2003) A relevant difference between these legal systems is in the principle of good faith, which has a specific meaning in private law. It does not only refer to a principle of honesty and fair dealing (subjective good faith) but the good faith provisions in the civil code are also a basis for a judge to interpret, supplement or even set aside contract provisions parties have agreed on (objective good faith). Whereas the principle of good faith is accepted in civil law (the law of the European continent), the common law (Anglo-American law) has until now not accepted a general (objective) good faith principle. This paper will relate this aspect of difference of these legal systems to two different models of professional practice that are developed by Argyris and Schön (1974) in the classical work “Theory in practice: increasing professional effectiveness”. The paper shows that common law system fits better with a model 1 of professional behavior and the civil law system with model 2. Relevant is that according to Argyris and Schön these models are not equally effective, i.e., “double-loop learning” would not occur in model 1, unless through revolutionary change. The paper investigates whether these theoretical insights come to the ground in strategic city projects. Two case studies are analyzed, i.e. the Mahler 4 project in the South Axis of Amsterdam and to plot 16/17 in Battery Park City, New York. It shows that the relationships between agents in these projects reflect the differences in legal systems, and that this has also consequences for professional competences. The paper proposes research questions to develop further insights in the practical meaning, to strategic urban projects, of the different doctrines of good faith in common law and civil law. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p365&r=geo |
| By: | Barrie Needham; Arno Segeren |
| Abstract: | For many years, land markets have been analyzed as though parcels of land were being traded in a frictionless market subject to no rules. To the extent that there were rules which could not be ignored – such as land-use regulations – the effect of these was incorporated as ‘distortions’ to the market. An institutional analysis of land markets, on the contrary, starts by looking the the rules which structure the exchange of rights in land. These are the formal rules regulating such things as access to the market, which rights may be traded and which not, land-use and environmental rules, fiscal rules, inheritance rules. Then there are the informal rules, customary practices, taken-for-granted ways of doing things. All those rules create a structure which affects the availability of information, risk and uncertainty, transaction costs, organizations for buyers and sellers and brokers, etc. It is assumed that people act in a rational way within that structure. The results are the market outcomes: what is traded where, by whom, in what volume, at what price? This paper sets out the method for such an institutional analysis and applies it to two land markets in the Netherlands – for agricultural land and for land on industrial estates. The results of applying this analysis allow market outcomes to be explained better than by an analysis which ignores institutions. The paper is based on research carried out by the authors at the Netherlands Institute for Spatial Research (Ruimtelijk Planbureau). |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p582&r=geo |
| By: | Robert G. Valletta |
| Abstract: | The Beveridge curve depicts the empirical relationship between job vacancies and unemployment, which in turn reflects the underlying efficiency of the job matching process. Previous analyses of the Beveridge curve suggested deterioration in match efficiency during the 1970s and early 1980s, followed by improved match efficiency beginning in the late 1980s. This paper combines aggregate and regional data on job vacancies and unemployment to estimate the U.S. aggregate and regional Beveridge curves, focusing on the period 1976-2005. Using new data on job vacancies from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the help-wanted advertising series that formed the basis of past work are modified to form synthetic job vacancy series at the national and regional level. The results suggest that a decline in the dispersion of employment growth across geographic areas contributed to a pronounced inward shift in the Beveridge curve since the late 1980s, reversing the earlier pattern identified by Abraham (1987) and reinforcing findings of favorable labor market trends in the 1990s (e.g., Katz and Krueger 1999). |
| Keywords: | Unemployment ; Employment (Economic theory) ; Labor market |
| Date: | 2005 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fip:fedfwp:2005-25&r=geo |
| By: | Juan Carlos Rodríguez-Cohard; Encarnación Moral-Pajares |
| Abstract: | Globalisation affects the smallest specialized companies in mature sectors, especially in the less developed regions in Europe. In these cases, the competitive advantage that these industries had achieved in the international market due to low costs of the factors has been broken. One way to improve its competitive position is an active participation in the international market through communication and information technologies along the productive chain. This paper describes these specialized companies in European mature sectors. Specially, we examine the of the province of Jaén (Andalusia). The results have been obtained surveying a hundred of companies –food, clothes and furniture sectors. These results show how these enterprises use communication and information technologies to adapt its competitive capacity in the new global market. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p655&r=geo |
| By: | Abigail Wozniak (University of Notre Dame and IZA Bonn) |
| Abstract: | It is unclear whether educational disparities in internal migration levels reflect important economic differences or simply different consumption choices. I answer this question empirically by testing for educational differentials in the likelihood that young workers undertake and succeed at arbitrage migration. I find that young college graduates are two to five times more likely than less educated workers to reside in a state with high labor demand at the time they entered the market. Among college graduates, cross-state migration by college graduates equalizes the wage impact of early career labor demand shocks in their home states. This is not true for less educated workers. The lack of wage convergence is most severe for cohorts who entered the labor market during periods of high spatial variation in state conditions and low national employment growth. My results are consistent with theories of educational differences in migration that assume less educated workers are credit constrained, and cast doubt on several other explanations for the difference. |
| Keywords: | internal migration, local labor markets, education |
| JEL: | J6 |
| Date: | 2006–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp1954&r=geo |
| By: | Nola Hewitt-Dundas; Ciara Leonard |
| Abstract: | Conceptual perspectives on the innovation process have moved dramatically in the past decade from a linear model of the innovation process to one based on an evolutionary or systems perspective of innovation. This has also been referred to as moving from a closed to an open innovation paradigm. In this systems perspective, innovation networks are critical with innovation being driven by interaction and co-operation between firms and other organisations. Empirical research has supported this paradigmatic shift by providing evidence that firms engaged in innovation networks are more likely to undertake innovation, have higher sales from innovation and be growing faster. From a resource based view of the firm this might suggest that the competitive position of the firm is due to their internal resource base being enhanced through external innovation links. For small firms, innovation links may be particularly important in providing access to financial, technological and human resources and increasing the probability of innovation. Together, the conceptual and empirical literatures have encouraged changes in policy initiatives to promote innovation resulting in the formulation of regional and national innovation strategies. This paper draws on longitudinal plant-level survey data in Ireland from 1991 to 2002 (Irish Innovation Panel) to determine if evidence exists to support the conceptual perspective that innovation links have increased in recent years. The data analysis also examines if there have been changes in the intensity of innovation links, and if differences exist in innovation links by firm size, sector, ownership or location over the period. The paper also compares the use of horizontal and vertical links and examines if this has changed over the 1991 to 2002 period. This is significant given increased emphasis on technology transfer initiatives by the public sector in recent years. The paper also examines the extent to which the pattern of innovation links reflect the underlying innovation system and public policy initiatives to promote technology transfer and networking as implemented throughout Ireland from 1991 to 2002. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p608&r=geo |
| By: | Cihan Ahmet Tutluoðlu; Vedia Dokmeci |
| Abstract: | The centre of gravity and tendency of the mass to concentrate around it, is an important element in Physics as well as in Statistics. When it comes to population studies, they may be used to allocate governmental posts as well as to have a good grasp of the dynamics in the country. When it is a country of high changes in population, these statistics may be exploited to see the impact of these changes and enable due alignment to meet the shifting demand. Large shifts in population have marked the history of Turkey as that of many other parts of the developping world. In this paper, the change in the weighted average and the variance of population centres has been calculated for Turkey for each census at city-level and for settlements of above 10,000 inhabitants. The same was done for the GNP. The changes in the mentioned centre of gravity were then regressed on suitable trend functions and meaningful yet different dependencies have been shown. It is worthwhile to note the tendencies to converge and to draw cycles on the data set. Since all of these calculations were accompanied by huge variance terms regarding the relatively high area and population of Turkey, clusters based on variance caps have also been proposed. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p311&r=geo |
| By: | István Balcsók; László Dancs; Gábor Koncz |
| Abstract: | The purpose of the presentation is to summarily describe the development of cross-border connections along the Hungarian-Romanian borderline from the democratic transformation to hitherto. This is one of the temporary external borders of the European Union and we intend to pay special attention to the development of effective cooperation accomplished in the immediate border region. The Hungarian-Romanian PHARE CBC program had/has a significant role in intensification of connections among people living on both sides of the border (e.g. to organize common educational, cultural, economic etc. programs, expert’s meetings, common investments), which extended the funding system of the EU for two non-member states at its startup (in 1996) in a unique way. For this reason the presentation focuses on the effects of those projects which were realized with the financial assistance of the Union and had significant influence on cross-border connections and makes an attempt to highlight the main features of prospective tendencies of cooperation. Beside the summary of the already terminated or proceeding common applications the perceptions of active Hungarian and Romanian participants about the activity of the application system will be mentioned as well. We’ll also focus on the results of a survey carried out among people living in the direct border, which summarize the opinions of local inhabitants about the characteristics and intensity of connection and the possibility of continuation of the development process. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p301&r=geo |
| By: | Randi J. Hjorthol |
| Abstract: | The development of “new” family structures, with an increasing portions of divorced parents choose joint custody of the children, and a differentiation and distribution of daily activities has opened the way for new and more flexible forms for information and communication technology (ICT) to coordinate the interaction between family members. The need for flexible transport to link together activities is also an issue. The point of departure for this paper is to examine the interaction between the uses of ICT, in particular mobile phones, physical mobility and social life in an increasingly differentiated and distributed daily life among families with children. The questions addressed are how different families use ICT to coordinate and maintain relationships in everyday life and how ICT and physical mobility interact within this context. The empirical analysis is based on in-depth interviews of 25 families in the Oslo region. The analysis of the interaction between the car and the mobile phone indicate that the one will not replace the other. It is rather such that they represent technologies that complement each other and can perhaps mutually increase use. While the car is an extension of the body and which increases the physical range of the individual, the mobile telephone increases one’s range of overview. To some degree the mobile telephone directs automobile use, in the sense that it may generate more trips since use of the mobile telephone means that there is not the need to plan daily activities. More of the activities are carried out spontaneously and daily life is more ad hoc, which also indicate more car uses. In the families of this study different time use arrangements are tied to the use of the car and the mobile telephone. At the one extreme we find the structured where all the activities are planned – both in time and space – and all the assignments are divided between the various members of the family. On the other hand we see families where everything is done spontaneously and there is very little planning aside from the fixed portions of life. The structured and ad hoc systems are two extremes on a scale where there are many alternative solutions. The families in this study represent positions between the extremes tending towards the ad hoc end of the spectrum. The car and the mobile telephone are devices that allow this type of organization, which seems to increase daily transport by car. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p569&r=geo |
| By: | Horácio Faustino; Nuno Carlos Leitão |
| Abstract: | Portugal’s main trade partners have been Spain, Germany and France. In this paper we analyse the intra industry trade in the manufacturing industry between Portugal Spain, Portugal-France, Portugal Germany, Portugal-Ireland and Portugal-Greece. We also present the results of intra industry trade (IIT) between Portugal and the European Union. The innovation, technological progress, human capital, and scale economies are some of the explicative variables of the intra industry trade phenomena. This type of trade is associated with the product differentiation. We consider the panel data models, which are commonly used in the literature, and the recent GMM estimator. One of the objectives of this paper is to verify the estimated models of intra industry trade (IIT), horizontal intra industry trade (HIIT), and vertical intra industry trade (VIIT), and to also verify if the results obtained are different for the partners in analysis. The second objective is to test if the relationship between HIIT and VIIT is determinate by comparative advantages. The third propose is to analyse the results for IIT,HIIT and VIIT with the GMM estimator, and to observe if the models have autocorrelation or specification problems. We will use the m statistics test of Arellano and Bond (1991) and the methodology of Blundell and Bond (1998,2000) to estimated the models. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p23&r=geo |
| By: | Hou, Feng |
| Abstract: | This study examines the expansion of visible minority neighbourhoods in Canada's three largest metropolitan areas from 1981 to 2001. |
| Keywords: | Social conditions, Population and demography, Families, Population characteristics, Social behaviour |
| Date: | 2004–07–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp3e:2004221e&r=geo |
| By: | Gilmore, Jason |
| Abstract: | This report examines the health of residents of census metropolitan areas (CMAs) through measures such as life expectancy, self-rated health, smoking, heavy drinking, obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, life stress, depression, self-perceived unmet health care needs and number of general physicians and family practitioners per 100,000 population. |
| Keywords: | Health, Health status indicators |
| Date: | 2004–07–28 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp7e:2004002e&r=geo |
| By: | Costa, Rosalinda; Siggner, Andrew |
| Abstract: | This report examines the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the Aboriginal population living in 11 metropolitan centres in 1981 and 2001. It studies the size, age and mobility of the population; the family structure of Aboriginal people; school participation and educational attainment; and the labour market characteristics and transfer dependence of Aboriginal people. It finds that Aboriginal people living in the nation's largest metropolitan centres were faring better overall in 2001 than they were two decades earlier. Nevertheless, these Aboriginal urban dwellers still faced many challenges, especially those in living in urban centres in the western provinces, where large gaps remained with their non-Aboriginal counterparts. The report examines the Aboriginal identity population, which refers to those persons who identified with at least one Aboriginal group, that is, North American Indian, Métis or Inuit. The concept of identity allows for historical comparability with the concept used in the 1981 Census to discuss changes over time. Data came from the censuses of 1981, 1996 and 2001, as well as the 2001 Aboriginal Peoples Survey. The metropolitan areas examined include Montreal, Ottawa-Hull (now known as Ottawa-Gatineau), Toronto, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. |
| Keywords: | Population and demography, Population characteristics |
| Date: | 2005–06–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp7e:2005008e&r=geo |
| By: | Carlos J. C. Bacha; Luiz Carlos E. Rodriguez |
| Abstract: | Brazil has the largest tropical rainforests in the world and most of them are located at Amazon River basin area. During the last three decades, deforestation are growing very fast in this region, having negative impacts at local and global weather. In order to minimize these impacts and protect part of the biodiversity, Brazilian government established several national forests in this area, but just one have being explored, the Tapajós National Forest (known as Flona Tapajós). This paper evaluates the economic and social features of a reduced impact logging project conducted at Flona Tapajós from 1999 to 2003. It was coordinated by IBAMA (the Brazilian governmental agency responsible for managing National Forests), funded by ITTO (International Tropical Timber Organization) and conducted by Treviso Agropecuária Ltda (a private enterprise). This project is locally known as ITTO project. Basing on field interviews and examining IBAMA´s and Treviso´s documents, this paper concludes that ITTO project was highly profitable for the private company, in spite of the company had obeyed all Brazilian working laws, what is not very common at this Brazilian region. Treviso´s internal rate of return was 35.79%. ITTO project impacted significantly the community workers involved with the project and it was able to teach this population how to manage rainforests in order to produce timber without destroying them. The paper ends by suggesting some attitudes that Brazilian government can follow in its discussion about new reduced impact logging projects to be implemented at Flona Tapajós and other national forests by both private enterprises and local communities. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p400&r=geo |
| By: | Mehmet Kucukmehmetoglu; Jean-Michel Guldmann |
| Abstract: | The allocation of water in a multi-country river system necessarily involves conflicting objectives, where increasing water benefits to one country may entail losses to other countries. This paper presents the formulation and application of a multi-objective linear programming model, where each objective represents the benefits to a country from using water for agricultural, municipal, and energy uses, net of conveyance costs. This model extends the Euphrates and Tigris River Basin Model (ETRBM), presented in Kucukmehmetoglu and Guldmann (2004), with the three objective functions representing the net water benefits to the three riparian countries – Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. The model is used to delineate the set of non-inferior solutions (Pareto frontiers), where no individual country benefit can be increased without reducing the benefits of at least another country. These Pareto frontiers, and the underlying water resources allocations, are graphically displayed and analyzed under different scenarios related to river flow, electricity price, and agricultural productivity. The trade-offs between the three benefits are assessed, providing the basis for possible compromises among the three countries. Potential policy implications for trans-boundary water resources utilization are discussed. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p9&r=geo |
| By: | Teun Terpstra; Jan Gutteling; Bert Kappe; Govert Geldof |
| Abstract: | In this paper we aim to gain insight in the determinants that control the risk perception of flooding and water nuisance by developing and validating a questionnaire. We also investigate to what extent the risk characteristics of external safety risks apply to perceptions of flooding and water nuisance. We use elements from the psychometric paradigm: risk perception characteristics and their interrelationships have been quantified by developing statements about flooding (38) and water nuisance (12), which were rated by respondents. The state-trait anxiety inventory was applied to determine whether perceptions are related to anxiety characteristics. A focus group session was organized to further explain our findings. Factor analyzing 49 questionnaires resulted in the identification of eight flooding factors (explained variance: 74%) and three water nuisance factors (explained variance: 62%). The internal consistency of the scales measured by Cronbach’s alpha ranged from 0.54 to 0.82. Like in the perception of external safety risks, ‘dread’ seems to be the most important concept binding different characteristics. Although dread towards both flooding and water nuisance is rather low, it seems more present in the latter case. We hypothesize cautiously that the extent of dread for water nuisance is also determined by the anxiety one experiences at that particular moment. In both cases awareness of ‘increasing risks’ is clearly present, and we find the characteristics ‘(no) dread’, ‘(un)controllable situation’ and ‘does not affect me’ to be related. Also the characteristic ‘risk-benefit trade off’ seems also to be related to ‘no dread’. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p760&r=geo |
| By: | Heracles Polatidis; Dias Haralambopoulos |
| Abstract: | Energy planning has come a long way during the 20th century from an intuitive approach to a full-scale discipline, incorporating technological and economic dimensions. The latter include both the micro- and the macro- level, whereas the technological framework covers energy, technology, thermodynamics and thermo-economic approaches. It is only during the last two decades that the environmental aspects of energy conversion has started to assume the gravity that it should have been assigned perhaps from the start, with the deterioration of the environment, e.g. acid rain, urban pollution, global warming, etc. and the depletion of resources becoming issues of outmost importance. The emergence of the renewable energy technologies as a reliable substitute of conventional fossil fuels gave promises that were only partially fulfilled as they never assumed the role that society had entrusted on them in the beginning. The alternative energy options, both on the technological and the resource level, revealed the complex nature of energy planning, where energy production and conversion should be addressed in tandem with energy demand and consumption and the particular preferences of the individuals. In both cases the spatial elements should be carefully analyzed and taken into consideration. Today’s energy planning asks for a complex approach which must includes the technological, economic, environmental and social design, accounting for the multitude of facets that interweave in the analysis and successful implementation of energy policies and projects. The aforementioned four dimensions must in turn be decomposed in a number of attributes in order for a quantitative and qualitative estimation to be realized. For the identification of an appropriate solution, a multi-criteria analysis seems to be the logical framework since it allows for a multitude of elements to be incorporated, and at the same time it can include a variety of stakeholders, with conflicting perhaps interests. In this paper we present the new approach for energy planning with the technological, economic, environmental and social design dimensions integrated in a new platform together with the necessary decomposition analysis. The whole new framework is presented via theoretical and practical examples and will hopefully pave the way towards a new under transition, energy future. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p754&r=geo |
| By: | Alexander Marthyn Borghuis; Yu-Jia Chiu |
| Abstract: | Taiwan is a little smaller than the Netherlands, an island surrounded by the sea and has a population of circa 23 million. Add a central range of steep mountains and it is clear that the pressure on living space and natural resources is enormous. This is exemplified by the fact that Taiwan has become one of the countries facing water scarcity in the next decades. Taiwan has around 40 large reservoirs that hold around 4200 million cubic meter of all water, a recent study shows that around 300 million cubic meter of silt accumulates in Taiwan's reservoirs and further that only around 10% of sediment is removed each year. Therefore, reservoir management tries to counter the sedimentation problem at the source. However, for effective measures reliable data on the origins of the sediment and patterns and rates of erosion in the hinterland are needed. It is for example not well established what the effect is of the annual tropical cyclones on erosion rates of undisturbed steep forested slope land soils. Therefore, the authors present a novel method that aims at reconstructing more than 40 years of soil erosion and deposition within the two largest reservoir catchments in Taiwan. The method combines the Cs-137 isotope technique, widely used to calculate soil re-distribution rates with a detailed representation of the watersheds in a GIS. More than 160 soil profile samples were collected in both undisturbed (forested) and disturbed (agricultural) locations across the watersheds. The sampling was based on an a priori stratification of the watersheds into landscape units that were assumed to have distinct ranges of soil re-distribution. Cs-137 activity levels in the soil profiles were measured in a radiological laboratory. Published conversion techniques were applied to compute soil re-distribution rates for observed Cs-137 inventories. Geo-statistical methods were then applied to obtain the relations between re-distribution rates and landscape units. These relations were then distributed using the GIS representation of the landscape units. The GIS-embedded models were calibrated and cross-validated and show maps of 40 years soil erosion and deposition across the studied watersheds as well as a map of estimate uncertainties. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p666&r=geo |
| By: | Carlo Tesauro |
| Abstract: | The removal of internal customs barriers, the introduction of Euro and the suppression of frontier controls (Schengen treaty), joined with the enlargement of number of Members from 15 up to 25 represent the most meaningful aspects of the integrating process between the Countries of European Union before the forthcoming European Constitution. The actual configuration of the Union still completed the initial plan of a “Common Market”, obtained introducing some complying elements in the course of time. The last step of this integrating process was represented by the adoption of a common currency that really transformed the Union area in a unique market. The adoption of a common currency represented the main care versus the integration process. The reason of this care is that it really represents the first step towards the giving up of some intrinsic privileges in the sovereignty of a State. These steps are (and will be) requisite for a full achievement of the European Union aims. Nevertheless, some recent national events showed how much that unconfessed fear was undoubtly well-grounded. A first unexpected effect of the introduction of Euro is the possibility to outline all the persistent differences between States in a more effective way. These differences enable also to identify the heterogeneous conditions of economic, political, social and cultural behavior of each Country. The increased effectiveness of Internet made this evaluation more simple, enabling to consider the whole virtual environment as an immediately reachable place to obtain information, services and goods from sources that are distributed in all over the world. The aim of this paper is to outline that the homogeneity of internal market of European Union is still not completed showing some specific examples. A further attempt is to identify some factors of persistence of the still existing differences between European Countries. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p477&r=geo |
| By: | Coish, David |
| Abstract: | The report examines culture in census metropolitan areas (CMAs) in 2001. The report uses the 1996 and 2001 censuses, and data from Statistics Canada's Culture Statistics Program and the Centre for Education Statistics. |
| Keywords: | Labour, Personal finance and household finance, Arts, culture and recreation, Labour force characteristics, Income, Performing arts |
| Date: | 2004–10–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp7e:2004004e&r=geo |
| By: | David Pitfield |
| Abstract: | Ryanair tends to operate to destinations from its UK bases that are not the main airports in the country being served and in this it differs from many other European low cost carriers. For example, it flies from London Stansted (STN) to Venice Treviso (TSF), whereas the competition flies from other London area airports to Venice Marco Polo (VCE). So although direct competition is not provided in the way that rival services operate between identical pairs of airports, indirect competition is provided. This raises the question, when Ryanair commence services, what is the impact on the market share of the incumbent airlines at these other airports? This can be shown by examining UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data on scheduled passengers carried, along with OAG data on flight frequency, airline and aircraft type on a number of selected routes. The impact on market share can be shown and the conclusion suggested that total traffic is stimulated on these sectors so that incumbent's traffic might fall, be constant or even increase, whilst their share, and probably their yield, falls, as Ryanair exploits latent demand. These findings echo previous work, for example, Barrett (2000). These conclusions are really generated hypotheses and these can be tested more completely by a time series analysis on monthly passenger data from 1991- 2003. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p16&r=geo |
| By: | Cletus C. Coughlin; Thomas A. Garrett; Rubén Hernández-Murillo |
| Abstract: | We apply spatial econometric techniques to models of state and local fiscal policy convergence. Total tax revenue and expenditures, as well as broad tax and expenditure categories, of state and local governments in each of the 48 contiguous U.S. states are examined. We extend recent work by Annala (2003) in much the same way that Rey and Montouri (1999) extended the literature dealing with income convergence among U.S. states. Our results indicate that most fiscal policies have been converging and that the growth in overall and broad categories of tax revenue and spending are dependent on the corresponding tax and spending behavior in other states. In addition, total expenditures have been converging faster than output, whereas total tax revenues have been converging slower that output. Our models further demonstrate that expenditure growth in a state is dependent upon expenditure growth in economically and demographically similar states, while output growth and revenue growth in a state are dependent on output growth and revenue growth, respectively, in contiguous states. |
| Keywords: | Fiscal policy |
| Date: | 2006 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fip:fedlwp:2006-001&r=geo |
| By: | Brown, Mark |
| Abstract: | This paper measures the degree of job renewal in Canadian manufacturing as a whole and across provinces. This study uses a longitudinal microdata set that covers the population of manufacturing plants in Canada from 1973 to 1996. |
| Keywords: | National accounts, Manufacturing, Economic conditions, Manufacturing industries |
| Date: | 2004–10–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp5e:2004023e&r=geo |
| By: | Mª del Pópulo Pablo Romero (Universidad de Sevilla); Mª Palma Gómez Calero (Universidad de Sevilla) |
| Abstract: | This paper contains an analysis of the economic effects of human capital onproduction, measured as Gross Value Added per full-time equivalent worker. To thisend, a Cobb-Douglas type production function has been used, with Gross Value Added(GVA) a function of human capital and private and public physical capital. Provincialdata from the 1990s were used. Results obtained applying the panel-data techniqueshow human capital makes a positive contribution to production. Besides, human capitaldeficits may partly explain GVA differences between Spanish provinces. En este trabajo se presenta un análisis de los efectos económicos que el capital humano, medido en términos de trabajadores equivalentes, tiene sobre la producción. Con este fin se ha utilizado una función de producción tipo Cobb-Douglas, en la que el Valor Añadido Bruto es función del capital humano y del capital físico privado y público. Para ello se utilizan datos provinciales referidos a la década de los noventa. Los resultados que se han obtenido mediante la técnica de datos de panel ponen de manifiesto que el capital humano contribuye positivamente a la producción y que sus déficit explican en parte las diferencias entre el valor añadido bruto de las provincias españolas. |
| Keywords: | datos de panel, capital humano, crecimiento económico, análisis provincial panel data, human capital, economic growth, provincial analysis |
| JEL: | C23 J24 O47 R11 |
| Date: | 2005–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ivi:wpasec:2005-14&r=geo |
| By: | Alejandro Rodriguez Caro; Santiago Rodriguez Feijoó; Carlos Gonzalez Correa |
| Abstract: | In the present paper we study the degree of convergence in the European Union from the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) point of view. The price of the shopping basket can be the cause of disparities in a global market in construction that, like the European Union, is formed by different countries with different consumption habits. In addition, in this construction process twelve out of fifteen countries of the EU have left its national currency to adopt the Euro like common currency. Therefore, it is necessary for the stability of the Union process in the long run that, among others, purchasing power of the different state members tends towards a same common value. Moreover, the question is whether that process of convergence within the European Union is taking place or not. In order to solve this question, the series of the Absolute Purchasing Power Parity (APPP) are estimated through the suggestion of Rodriguez et al (2004). These authors use the Harmonized Consumer Price Index in the European Union and the nominal exchange rates of the different currencies with euro. Monthly estimates of the APPP series for the 1995-2002 period are obtained for each of the fifteen countries. These figures show, for each country, their relative position to the average value of the European Union. Using these series we applied the Markov Chain methodology to study the time evolution of the distribution of APPP in the European Union. This methodology has been very used by its facility of calculation and interpretation of the results. Nevertheless, with the purpose of obtaining good estimations it is necessary to solve the discretization problem of a continuous variable. This is, to use a finite set, and relatively small number of states, for a variable with infinite values. In the present work different approaches are used to solve the problem. We test for structural change on the estimated probabilities using adapted test to Markov Chains. This allows us to study if an effect exists on the Purchasing Power Parity with the entrance of the Euro. Markov Chains are estimated by Maximum likelihood, and allow us to do different analyses. In the first place, we can study the mobility of the distribution, measured through the probabilities of permanence or not in the same state, and in the degree of diagonal structure of the resulting matrix. This objective can obtained by direct observation, calculating Mobility Index, or using expected time of first passage. Secondly, we can obtain the ergodic or long term distribution. This one shows the temporary evolution in the long run of the distribution, under the hypothesis of maintenance of the present conditions. This distribution would show the possible convergence or not of the whole distribution. We also estimate elasticities of ergodic probabilities, to analyze the effect of each probability in the Markov chain in the long run distribution. Results show differences with the Euro Entry, mobility towards convergence within the distribution is slow, with high elasticities of the ergodic distribution to changes in the transition probabilities. |
| Date: | 2005–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa05p457&r=geo |
| By: | Joel Waldfogel |
| Abstract: | When a product's product provision entails fixed costs, it will be made available only if a sufficient number of people want it. Some products are produced and consumed locally, so that provision requires not only a large group favoring the product but a large number nearby. Just as one has an incentive to sort into community whose median voter shares his preferences for local public goods, product markets may provide an analogous incentive to sort into a community whose consumers tend to share his preferences in private goods. Using zip code level data on chain restaurants and restaurants overall, this paper documents how the mix of locally available restaurants responds to the local mix of consumers, with three findings. First, based on survey data on chain restaurant patronage, restaurant preferences differ substantially by race and education. Second, there is a strong relationship between restaurants and population at the zip code level, suggesting that restaurants’ geographic markets are small. Finally, the mix of locally available chain restaurants is sensitive to the zipcode demographic mix by race and by education. Hence, differentiated product markets provide a benefit -- proximity to preferred restaurants -- to persons in geographic markets whose customers tend to share their preferences. |
| JEL: | L1 L8 R3 |
| Date: | 2006–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:11972&r=geo |
| By: | Juana Aznar (Universidad Miguel Hernández); Rosella Nicolini (Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona) |
| Abstract: | This paper aims at developing a theoretical and empirical analysis of the factors affecting the demand of the tourist sector in the Comunidad Valenciana. We develop a study in line with the approach of the economic geography theory. Firms belonging to the tourist sector concentrate around natural resources and make spontaneous agglomerations arise. The activities sponsored by the Agencia de Turismo allow firms to improve the quality of the touristic offer and generate competitive advantages for the firms themselves. The econometric results suggest that the elasticity of the touristic demand is positive and very significant with respect to the quality of the touristic offer. Moreover, as one can expect, transport costs and other barriers smooth the touristic demand. En este estudio nos proponemos, utilizando un modelo de economía geográfica, ofrecer un análisis teórico y empírico de los elementos que afectan a la demanda turística en la Comunidad Valenciana, siendo este un sector en el que las empresas se distribuyen de manera polarizada alrededor de los recursos naturales. Las actividades patrocinadas por la Agencia Valenciana de Turismo han permitido incrementar la calidad de los servicios ofrecidos, sobre todo para las empresas que forman parte de una aglomeración, puesto que esta circunstancia les permite disfrutar de ventajas competitivas. Además, del análisis empírico se obtiene que la elasticidad de la demanda turística (pernoctaciones en hoteles) con respecto a los servicios ofrecidos es positiva y altamente significativa, mientras que no resulta afectada por el número de restaurantes. Por otra parte, y como cabría esperar, los costes de transporte parecen ser una restricción importante para los turistas extranjeros. Algunas consideraciones de política económica concluyen este estudio. |
| Keywords: | Aglomeraciones geográficas, externalidades, competitividad, sector turístico Agglomerations, externalities, competitiveness, tourist sector |
| JEL: | R12 R22 D21 L8 |
| Date: | 2005–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ivi:wpasec:2005-18&r=geo |
| By: | Haan, Michael |
| Abstract: | Numerous studies equate immigrant homeownership with assimilation into the residential mainstream, though only rarely is this claim verified by studying the ethnic character of neighbourhoods where immigrants actually buy homes. In this paper, the 1996 and 2001 Census of Canada master files and bivariate probit models with sample selection corrections (a.k.a. Heckman probit models) are used to assess the neighbourhood-level ethnic determinants of homeownership in Toronto, Canada. By determining whether low levels of ethnic concentration accompany a home purchase, it can be assessed whether immigrants exit their enclaves in search of a home in the 'promised land', as traditional assimilation theory suggests, or if some now seek homes in the 'ethnic communities' that Logan, Alba and Zhang (2002) recently introduced in the American Sociological Review. Assessing the role of concentration under equilibrium conditions, evidence emerges that same-group concentration affects the propensity of several group members to buy homes. |
| Date: | 2005–05–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp3e:2005252e&r=geo |
| By: | Beckstead, Desmond; Brown, Mark |
| Abstract: | Le présent document décrit les disparités sur le plan du revenu d'emploi par habitant entre les provinces et dans le continuum urbain rural, en allant des grandes villes aux petites villes et entre les villes et les régions rurales. Le premier objectif est de comparer le degré de disparité des revenus entre les provinces et les disparités de revenu dans le continuum urbain rural. Le deuxième objectif est de déterminer dans quelle mesure les disparités provinciales peuvent être liées à la composition urbaine rurale des provinces. Le document vise également à déterminer si les disparités sur le plan du revenu d'emploi par habitant entre les régions urbaines et les régions rurales tiennent à une situation moins favorable du marché du travail dans les villes plus petites et dans les régions rurales comparativement aux grandes villes. |
| Keywords: | Comptes nationaux, Travail, Conditions économiques, Salaires et traitements |
| Date: | 2005–07–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp2f:2005012f&r=geo |
| By: | Coish, David |
| Abstract: | Dans ce rapport, on examine les activités culturelles menées dans les régions métropolitaines de recensement (RMR) du Canada en 2001. On y utilise les données des recensements de 1996 et de 2001 ainsi que les données du Programme de la statistique culturelle et du Centre de la statistique de l'éducation de Statistique Canada. |
| Keywords: | Travail, Finances personnelles et finances des ménages, Arts, culture et loisirs, Caractéristiques de la population active, Revenu, Arts d'interprétation |
| Date: | 2004–10–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stc:stcp7f:2004004f&r=geo |
| By: | Christophe André; Nathalie Girouard; Mike Kennedy; Paul Van den Noord |
| Abstract: | In the vast majority of OECD economies, house prices in real terms have been moving up strongly since the mid-1990s. Because of the important role housing wealth has been playing during the current upswing, this paper will look more closely at what is underlying these developments for 18 OECD countries over the period from 1970 to the present, with a view to shedding some light on whether or not prices are in line with fundamentals. The paper begins by putting the most recent housing price run-ups in the context of the experiences of the past 35 years. It then examines current valuations against a range of benchmarks. It concludes with a review of the links between a possible correction of housing prices and real activity. The main highlights from this analysis are as follows: 1) The size and duration of the current real house price increases; the degree to which they have tended to move together across countries; and the extent to which they have disconnected from the business cycle are unprecedented. 2) Overvaluation of real house prices may only apply to a relatively small number of countries. However, the extent to which these prices look to be fairly valued depends largely on longer-term interest rates remaining at or close to their current low levels. 3) If house prices were to adjust downward, the historical record suggests that the drops might be large and that the process could be protracted, given the observed stickiness of nominal house prices and the current low rates of inflation. <P>Le rôle des fondamentaux dans l’évolution récente des prix des logements Dans la grande majorité des pays de l'OCDE, les prix réels des logements se sont accrus fortement depuis le milieu des années 90. Étant donné le rôle important joué par le patrimoine immobilier dans la reprise; cette étude examinera de près les facteurs ayant contribués à cette évolution afin de mieux cerner si les prix des logements depuis 1970, pour 18 pays de l'OCDE, sont justifiés par les fondamentaux. Cette étude commence par replacer les hausses les plus récentes des prix de l'immobilier résidentiel dans le contexte des évolutions observées au cours des 35 dernières années. Elle examine ensuite les prix actuels au regard d'un certain nombre d'indicateurs. Elle s'achève enfin par une analyse des liens entre un éventuel réajustement des prix des logements et l'activité réelle. Les principaux aspects de cette analyse sont les suivants: 1) L'ampleur et la durée de l'augmentation des prix réels des logements, l'homogénéité de leur évolution dans différents pays et leur découplage par rapport au cycle économique sont sans précédent. 2) La surévaluation des prix de l'immobilier n'apparaîtrait que dans un nombre relativement restreint de pays. Cela étant, pour considérer que ces prix sont justifiés, il faut, dans une large mesure supposer que les taux d'intérêt à long terme resteront pratiquement aussi bas qu'actuellement. 3) Si les prix des logements venaient à baisser, l'expérience passée conduit à penser que les baisses pourraient être plus importantes en termes réels et qu'elles pourraient être durables, compte tenu de la rigidité observée des prix des logements en termes nominaux et de la faiblesse actuelle de l'inflation. |
| Keywords: | house prices, prix des logements, housing markets, marché immobilier |
| JEL: | R21 R31 |
| Date: | 2006–01–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:475-en&r=geo |