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This paper reviews Paul Krugman's fundamental contributions to new trade theory (NTT) and new economic geography (NEG) on the occasion of his 2008 Nobel Prize. We appraise the impact his work had on the field of regional science broadly defined, and we quantify its influence on papers published in Papers in Regional Science ( PIRS) between 1991 and 2009 (vols. 70–87 and papers in press). We then discuss in more detail a few contributions published in PIRS that extend his original analysis in various directions. Finally, we briefly speculate on where NEG is headed to and which are the research directions that should be explored more thoroughly in the future. Resumen Con ocasión de su Premio Nobel de 2008, este artículo revisa las contribuciones fundamentales de Paul Krugman a la nueva teoría del comercio (NTT, por sus siglas en inglés) y a la Nueva Geografía Económica (NEG, por sus siglas en inglés). Valoramos el impacto que ha tenido su trabajo en el campo de la Ciencia Regional en su más amplia definición, y cuantificamos su influencia sobre artículos publicados en Papers in Regional Science (PiRS) entre 1991 y 2009 (vols. 70-87 y artículos en prensa). A continuación discutimos en más detalle unas pocas contribuciones publicadas en PiRS que amplían su análisis original en varias direcciones. Finalmente, especulamos brevemente sobre adónde se dirige la NEG y cuales son las avenidas de investigación que deberían ser exploradas en mayor profundidad en el futuro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Gupta et al. (2004 ) shows that in a circular market under spatial Cournot discrimination, the location equilibria can be categorised into several patterns. This paper proves that, given the same number of firms producing differentiated products, one location pattern constitutes an equilibrium in price competition if and only if it constitutes an equilibrium in quantity competition. That is, the location equilibrium is irrelevant to whether the firms compete with each other on quantities or prices. Gupta et al. (2004 ) muestra que en un mercado circular bajo discriminación espacial de Cournot, los equilibrios de localización pueden categorizarse de acuerdo a varios patrones. Este artículo prueba que, dado el mismo número de empresas produciendo productos con características distintivas, un patrón de localización constituye un equilibrio en competencia en precio si y solo si constituye un equilibrio en competencia en cantidad. Es decir, el equilibrio de localización es irrelevante a que las empresas compitan entre sí en cantidad o en precio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper focuses on the differences in the levels of accessibility to public employment offices in the Spanish municipalities. Hence the main purpose is to evaluate the role of the public employment services in local labour markets by considering the physical distance to employment offices and the spatial structure of their catchment areas. First, we propose an accessibility measure and, second, we estimate a spatial model and test whether a higher accessibility to employment offices could contribute to reduce local unemployment rates. The results suggest that policy-makers should strive to improve the accessibility to employment offices so that adequate assistance to find suitable employment may be ensured to every jobseeker. Resumen Este artículo se centra en las diferencias en los niveles de accesibilidad a las oficinas públicas de empleo en los municipios españoles. El objetivo principal es por tanto evaluar el papel de los servicios públicos de empleo en los mercados laborales locales, en función de la distancia física a las oficinas de empleo y la estructura espacial de sus zonas de influencia. Primero, se propone una medida de accesibilidad y, a continuación, se estima un modelo espacial y se comprueba si una mayor accesibilidad a las oficinas de empleo podría contribuir a reducir las tasas de desempleo local. Los resultados sugieren que los responsables de formular políticas deberían esforzarse por mejorar la accesibilidad a las oficinas de empleo, a fin de poder asegurar a cada demandante de empleo la ayuda apropiada para que logre encontrar un empleo adecuado. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper estimates the impact of public investment on regional economic growth and convergence at the NUTS 3 level in Greece. Using a new database of public expenditure per region for the period 1978-2007, it proposes a model which captures not just the impact of public investment in Greek prefectures, but also the spillover effects related to the existence of externalities from neighbouring regions. The results point to a positive long-run impact of public investment per capita on regional economic growth - but not on convergence - which also generates considerable spillover effects. However, the returns vary according to different types of public investment, with education and infrastructure spillovers having the highest impact. In general, public investment externalities seem to be more relevant for regional growth than direct public investment in each region. Finally, the impact of different types of public investment in Greece is mediated by politics and political factors, but the effect of politics disappears once we control for political-period-specific spatial-invariant variables. Resumen Este artículo estima el impacto de la inversión pública en el crecimiento económico regional y la convergencia a nivel NUTS 3 en Grecia. Haciendo uso de una nueva base de datos de gasto público por región para el periodo 1978-2007, se propone un modelo que identifica no solamente el impacto de la inversión pública en las prefecturas griegas, sino también los efectos de spillover relacionados con la existencia de externalidades procedentes de regiones vecinas. Los resultados apuntan a un impacto positivo a largo plazo de la inversión pública per cápita en el crecimiento económico regional - pero no en la convergencia - el cual genera unos efectos de spillover considerables. Sin embargo, los retornos varían de acuerdo con los diferentes tipos de inversión pública, siendo la educación y los spillovers de infraestructura los de mayor impacto. En general, las externalidades de inversión pública parecen tener una mayor relevancia para el crecimiento regional que la inversión pública directa en cada región. Para terminar, el impacto de los diferentes tipos de inversión pública en Grecia se ve influido por sus políticas y otros factores políticos, pero el efecto de las políticas desaparece una vez que se controlan las variables espacialmente-invariantes de tipo político ligadas a un periodo específico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport infrastructure has represented one of the cornerstones of development and cohesion strategies in the European Union (EU) and elsewhere in the world. However, despite the considerable funds devoted to it, its impact remains controversial. This paper revisits the question of to what extent transport infrastructure endowment - proxied by regional motorways - has contributed to regional growth in the EU between 1990 and 2004. It analyses infrastructure in relationship to other factors which may condition economic growth, such as innovation, migration, and the local 'social filter', taking also into account the geographical component of intervention in transport infrastructure and innovation. The results of the two-way fixed-effect (static) and difference GMM (dynamic) panel data regressions indicate that infrastructure endowment is a relatively poor predictor of economic growth and that regional growth in the EU results from a combination of an adequate 'social filter', good innovation capacity, both in the region and in neighbouring areas, and a region's capacity to attract migrants. The meagre returns of infrastructure endowment on economic growth raise interesting questions about the opportunity costs of further infrastructure investments across most of Western Europe. Resumen La infraestructura de transporte ha venido siendo una de las piedras angulares de las estrategias de desarrollo y cohesión en la Unión Europea ( UE) y el resto del mundo. Sin embargo, y a pesar de los considerables recursos que se le ha dedicado, su impacto es un tema controvertido. Este artículo revisa el interrogante de hasta que punto ha contribuido la dotación de infraestructura de transporte - representada por las autopistas regionales - al crecimiento regional en la UE entre 1990 y 2004. Se analiza la infraestructura en relación a otros factores que podrían condicionar el crecimiento económico, como la innovación, la migración, y el 'filtro social' local, teniendo en cuenta asimismo el componente geográfico de la intervención en la infraestructura de transporte y la innovación. Los resultados de las regresiones de datos de panel de efectos fijos (método estático) de doble vía y MGM por diferencias (método dinámico) indican que la dotación de infraestructura es un pobre indicador del crecimiento económico y que el crecimiento regional en la UE tiene su origen en una combinación de un 'filtro social' adecuado, en una buena capacidad innovadora tanto en la región como en áreas vecinas, y en la capacidad de la región de atraer migración. Los escasos retornos para el crecimiento económico de la dotación de infraestructura suscitan cuestiones interesantes sobre los costos de oportunidad de futuras inversiones en infraestructura para la mayoría de Europa Occidental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the local policy that has promoted the formation of a cluster of knowledge-based activities in the city of Barcelona. After decades of economic and industrial stagnation in a district called Poblenou, in the year 2000 the City Council of Barcelona implemented a plan to renew the area's urban and economic structure. Under the development plan, knowledge-based firms were encouraged to set up in the area and thus to create a cluster of advanced activities. This paper examines the success of this local policy and aims to determine whether cluster amenities have played a part in attracting knowledge-based firms. First, we evaluated the cluster implementation via a 'difference-in-differences' analysis, comparing the increase in the percentage of knowledge-based firms in this specific area with the increase of these firms in other local areas. Second, to determine whether the cluster amenities are an important element in attracting knowledge-based activities, we perform a multivariate regression to see if cluster amenities (as valued by firms in a survey) do have an effect on the decision of knowledge-intensive firms to locate in the district. El propósito de este artículo es evaluar la política local que ha favorecido la formación de un conglomerado de actividades basadas en conocimiento en la ciudad de Barcelona. Después de décadas de estancamiento económico e industrial en un distrito llamado Poblenou, el Ayuntamiento de Barcelona implementó en el año 2000 un plan para renovar la estructura urbana y económica de la zona. Siguiendo el plan de desarrollo, se animó a las empresas de actividades basadas en conocimiento a que se establecieran en este área, creando con ello un conglomerado de actividades avanzadas. Este artículo examina el éxito de esta política local e intenta determinar si los servicios de conglomerado han jugado un papel a la hora de atraer a empresas de actividades basadas en conocimiento. Primero, evaluamos la implementación del conglomerado por medio de un análisis de diferencia en diferencias, al comparar el aumento del porcentaje de empresas de actividades basadas en conocimiento en este área específica con el aumento de estas empresas en otras áreas locales. Segundo, para determinar si las amenidades de conglomerado son un elemento importante a la hora de atraer actividades basadas en conocimiento, realizamos una regresión multivariante para observar si las amenidades de conglomerado (así valoradas por las empresas en una encuesta) afectan a la decisión de las empresas basadas en conocimiento de ubicarse en este distrito. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop an econometric analysis of the intra- and interregional trade flows of the accommodation, restaurant industry, and travel agency sectors in Spain by means of several specifications of the gravity model and three alternative databases containing the monetary flows for 2001 and 2007. The results obtained show the existence of an important border effect in favour of the intraregional trade of tourism, and verify a minor elasticity of the trade flows in some characteristic tourism sectors in relation to distance. Finally, the two main typologies of flows - tourist establishments and second homes - are modelled separately, identifying specific factors for explaining each category. En este artículo desarrollamos un análisis econométrico de los flujos comerciales intra e interregionales de los sectores hotelero, restauración y agencias de viajes en España, mediante varias especificaciones del modelo de gravedad y tres bases de datos alternativas que incluyen los flujos monetarios en 2001 y 2007. Los resultados obtenidos muestran la existencia de un importante efecto frontera favorable al comercio intrarregional de turismo y corroboran una elasticidad menor de los flujos comerciales en ciertos sectores de turismo característicos en relación a la distancia. Finalmente, se modeliza por separado las dos tipologías principales de flujos - establecimientos turísticos y segundas residencias, mediante la identificación de factores específicos para cada categoría. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By revisiting Lotka's law to account for the concentration of authors in a given field, this paper examines the determinants of scientific productivity in Belgium, measured as publications' impact scores. We then estimate arrondissement impact scores in a model that incorporates spatial interaction, and takes account of regional spillovers. Lotka's law reveals knowledge about the indivisibilities favouring scientific concentration. Global determinants of scientific productivity, controlling for knowledge specialization, are represented mainly by past scientific activity and national language. Spatial investigation based on scientific field reveals that proximity is a smaller facilitator of knowledge diffusion than use of English. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the evolution of regional income disparities in Europe. Besides using a more complete data set that offers a more detailed look at the evolution of regional incomes in Western Europe than previous studies, it is the first to shed empirical light on regional income differences and their evolution in Eastern Europe during the transition phase from communism towards EU membership by means of a (spatial) Markov chain analysis. Regional income disparities in Western Europe are found to be decreasing over time and less persistent than reported in earlier studies. In the case of Eastern Europe some regions are likely to fall behind in terms of GDP per capita whereas a substantial number of other regions will be able to (slowly) catch up with their Western neighbours. Moreover in Western Europe localized regional conditions appear to be a main determinant of the observed income differences, whereas in Eastern Europe country-specific factors are of bigger importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various alternative approaches are available in the literature for modelling trip distribution. The objective of this paper is to provide a review of this literature with the view of summarising the general nature of the current state of practise and what is now available for practical modelling work. Both aggregate and disaggregate destination choice models are considered, a classification of them will be proposed and suggestions for further research will be given as well. One outcome of this review is that significant contributions are emerging from mixed models (e.g., gravity-opportunity, random utility, intervening opportunities models, etc). In particular, the review will highlight the benefit of integrating different approaches like the introduction of intervening opportunities factors within random utility models. En la literatura existen varios métodos alternativos para la modelización de distribución de viajes. El objetivo de este artículo es proporcionar una revisión de esta literatura con vistas a resumir el estado actual en general de su implementación y de lo que hoy en día está disponible para trabajos prácticos de modelización. Se consideran los modelos de elección de destino por agregación y por desagregación, se propone un sistema para su clasificación y también se ofrecen sugerencias para más investigación. Un resultado de esta revisión es que de los modelos mixtos (p. ej. gravitatorio-oportunidad, de utilidad aleatoria) están surgiendo contribuciones significativas. En particular, esta revisión resalta el beneficio de integrar métodos diferentes como la introducción de factores de oportunidades intermedias dentro de modelos de utilidad aleatoria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaboration and the exchange of knowledge are supposedly made easier by geographical proximity because of the tacit character of knowledge. Recently a number of scholars' criticised this view on geographical proximity as being oversimplified and argued that the precise role of geographical proximity for knowledge exchange and collaboration still remains unclear. This paper analyses the role of geographical proximity for collaborative scientific research in science-based technologies between universities, companies and governmental research institutes. We test the hypothesis that the collaboration between different kinds of organisations is more geographically localised than collaboration between organisations that are similar due to institutional proximity. Using data on co-publications, collaborations patterns are analysed and the hypothesis is confirmed. La colaboración y el intercambio de conocimiento son supuestamente más fáciles si hay una proximidad geográfica debido al carácter tácito del conocimiento. Varios investigadores han criticado recientemente esta suposición sobre la proximidad geográfica como simplista argumentando que el papel preciso que juega la proximidad geográfica en el intercambio de conocimiento y la colaboración aun no está claro. Este artículo analiza el rol de la proximidad geográfica en la investigación científica colaborativa en tecnologías de base científica entre universidades e institutos de investigación privados o gubernamentales. Analizamos la hipótesis de que la colaboración entre tipos diferentes de organizaciones es más localizada geográficamente que la colaboración entre organizaciones que son similares debido a su proximidad institucional. Usando datos sobre co-publicaciones, se analizan patrones de colaboración y se confirma la hipótesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Spurred on by the theory of network formation, and by the geography of innovation, traditional analyses on R&D cooperation face a deep renewal. This paper assesses the extent to which these renewals find an empirical validation. Based on the research projects submitted to the 6th Framework Program of the European Union, a binary choice model is used in order to highlight the existence of network and spatial effects alongside other microeconomic determinants of cooperation. Our findings suggest that network effects are present, so that probability of collaboration is influenced by each individual's position within the network. Social distance thus seems to matter more than geographical distance. Los análisis tradicionales de cooperación I+D se enfrentan a una renovación profunda, estimulada por la teoría de formación de redes, y la geografía de la innovación. Este artículo evalúa el alcance con que esta renovación logra obtener una validación empírica. Basado en proyectos de investigación presentados al Sexto Programa Marco de la Unión Europea, se emplea un modelo de elección binaria para poner de relieve la existencia de efectos de red y espaciales junto con otros determinantes macroeconómicos de cooperación. Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que los efectos de red están presentes, de modo que la probabilidad de colaboración se ve influida por la posición de cada individuo dentro de la red. La distancia social parece por tanto importar más que la distancia geográfica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper tests the hypothesis that social networks are crucial for regional recruitment and inflows of foreign labour. New survey data on 971 firms located in Region Southern Denmark show that the predominant recruitment method of foreign labour was through networks. Danish municipal data from 1997-2006 furthermore reveal spatial sorting since initial shares of employees with a foreign background out of total regional employment predict foreign labour inflow rates to regional employment. Thus, social networks appear crucial for the recruitment and inflows of foreign labour, suggesting that employee referrals and information about vacancies in local job markets are also important for foreign labour. Resumen Este artículo pone a prueba la hipótesis de que las redes sociales son cruciales para la contratación regional y los flujos de mano de obra extranjera. Nuevos datos de una encuesta sobre 971 empresas ubicadas en la Región de Dinamarca Meridional muestran que el método de contratación predominante de mano de obra extranjera fue a través de redes. Datos municipales daneses de 1997-2006 revelan además una clasificación espacial, ya que las cuotas iniciales de empleados de origen extranjero respecto del empleo regional total predicen tasas de afluencia de mano de obra extranjera para el empleo regional. Por tanto, las redes sociales parecen ser cruciales para el reclutamiento y la afluencia de mano de obra extranjera, lo cual sugiere que las referencias de los empleados y la información sobre ofertas de empleo en los mercados laborales locales son también importantes para la mano de obra extranjera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaborations are particularly important for the development and deployment of technology. We analyse the influence of organizational, technological and geographical proximity on European nanotechnology collaborations with the help of a publication dataset and additional geographical information. While organizational proximity influences the output of collaborations only indirectly, geographical and technological proximity do so directly. Geographical proximity is most significant in statistical terms and technological proximity has the highest magnitude of effect. Consequently, the latter lends itself most for management and policy interventions, for example, by providing information on technological specialization of potential partners. Resumen Las colaboraciones son especialmente importantes para el desarrollo y el despliegue tecnológico. Se analiza la influencia de la proximidad organizacional, tecnológica y geográfica en colaboraciones europeas en nanotecnología, con la ayuda de un conjunto de datos publicados e información geográfica adicional. Si bien la proximidad organizacional influye en el resultado de las colaboraciones solo de manera indirecta, las proximidades geográfica y tecnológica influyen directamente. La proximidad geográfica es la más significativa en términos estadísticos y la proximidad tecnológica tiene la magnitud del efecto más elevada. Consecuentemente, esta última se presta más a las intervenciones de gestión y de políticas, por ejemplo, facilitando información sobre la especialización tecnológica de socios potenciales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to provide explanatory elements of the geography of collaboration by testing various potential factors related to the partners' features (sector of activity, location, affiliation to a parent firm, etc.) and to the pair of regions involved in the partnership (economic and scientific endowment of regions and proximities that separate them). Based on a database collecting around 15,000 Science-Industry agreements signed in France between 1981 and 2006, we first realized a probit model that focus on the local dimension of science-industry collaborations on an inter-individual level. We then test a gravity model (sample selection model) in order to explain the probability and the intensity of interregional collaborations. El propósito de este artículo es aportar elementos que expliquen la geografía de la colaboración mediante el ensayo de varios factores potenciales relacionados con las características de los socios (sector de la actividad, localización, afiliación a una empresa matriz, etc.) y con el par de regiones involucradas en la sociedad (dotación económica y científica de las regiones y las proximidades que las separan). Mediante la utilización de una base de datos que incluye alrededor de 15.000 acuerdos de colaboración entre ciencia e industria firmados en Francia entre 1981 y 2006, establecemos en primer lugar un modelo probit que se centra en la dimensión local de las colaboraciones entre ciencia e industria a nivel inter-individual. A continuación, hacemos ensayos con un modelo de gravedad (modelo de selección muestral) para explicar la probabilidad y la intensidad de las colaboraciones interregionales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper tests the hypothesis of conditional β-convergence in per capita income across the United States by extending the neoclassical growth model to incorporate public capital, government taxation, and human capital, and controlling empirically for technology growth. We expand the period of analysis from the late 1980s when studies using public capital stock have stopped, investigate spatial variation across the United States under various cross-sectional and panel spatial models, and tackle the issue of nonlinearities. All model variations provide evidence of economic convergence across the United States over the period 1960–2005. Resumen Este artículo evalúa las hipótesis de beta-convergencia condicional en renta per cápita en los Estados Unidos, ampliando el modelo de crecimiento neoclásico con la incorporación de capital público, tributación gubernamental y capital humano, y controlando empíricamente el crecimiento tecnológico. Hemos ampliado el periodo de análisis desde finales de los ochenta, momento en que se suspendieron los estudios que utilizaban reservas de capital público, hemos investigado la variación espacial para los Estados Unidos de acuerdo con diferentes modelos transversales y espaciales de panel, y hemos abordado el tema de las no linealidades. Todas las variaciones del modelo aportan pruebas de convergencia económica dentro de los Estados Unidos para el periodo 1960-2005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data forming a short space-time series – too short to utilize a STARIMA model – can include a random effects term that is spatially structured in order to account for both serial and spatial autocorrelation. In this context, space-time heterogeneity can be accounted for in various ways, including specifications involving spatial filtering methodology. This paper summarizes comparisons of four model specifications – simple pooled space-time; sequential, comparative statics; temporally varying coefficients with a spatially unstructured random effects term; and, temporally varying coefficients with a spatially structured random effects term. Implementations are illustrated with annual sugar cane production data for Puerto Rico during 1958/59–1973/74. Resumen. Los datos de series espacio-temporales cortas – demasiado cortas para utilizar un modelo STARIMA – pueden incluir un término de efectos aleatorios estructurado espacialmente para tener en cuenta la autocorrelación de la serie y espacial. En este contexto, la heterogeneidad espacio-temporal puede ser explicada en diferentes maneras, incluyendo especificaciones que implican metodologías de filtrado espacial. Este artículo resume la comparación de cuatro especificaciones de modelos – espacio-temporal agrupado simple; estática comparativa, secuencial; coeficientes de variación temporal con un término de efectos aleatorios espacialmente no estructurados; y coeficientes de variación temporal con un término de efectos aleatorios espacialmente estructurados. Las implementaciones se ilustran con datos de producción anual de azúcar de caña en Puerto Rico durante el periodo 1958/59–1973/74. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic disparities between the regions of the European Union are of constant concern both for policy and economic research. In this paper, we examine whether there are overlapping trends of regional development in the EU: overall convergence, on the one hand, and persistent or even increasing spatial concentration (agglomeration), on the other. Kernel density estimation, Markov chain analysis and cross-sectional regressions provide evidence that convergence of regional per-capita income in the EU15 has become considerably stronger in the 1990s. The reduction of income disparities, however, is a phenomenon between nations but not between regions within the EU countries. European integration (and possibly European regional policy) fosters the catching-up of lagging countries but at the same time forces towards agglomeration of economic activities tend to increase disparities within the EU member states. Resumen. Las disparidades económicas entre regiones de la Unión Europea son una preocupación constante para la investigación relacionada con políticas y con economía. En este artículo examinamos si existen tendencias superpuestas de desarrollo regional en la UE: convergencia en términos generales, por un lado, y por otro una concentración espacial (aglomeración) continua o incluso en aumento. La estimación por núcleos ( kernel) de la función de densidad, el análisis mediante cadenas de Markov y las regresiones transversales aportan pruebas de que la convergencia de ingresos regionales per cápita de la UE15 se ha fortalecido considerablemente en la década de los noventa. La reducción en la disparidad de ingresos, sin embargo, es un fenómeno entre naciones pero no entre regiones dentro de países de la UE. La integración europea (y quizá la política regional europea) fomenta la puesta al día de los países rezagados pero al mismo tiempo las fuerzas conducentes a la aglomeración de actividades económicas tienden a aumentar las disparidades dentro de los estados miembros de la UE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent theories of regional growth and local development emphasise the roles of agglomeration and knowledge as the main determinants of growth, whereas the theories of the networks of cities remark that growth is a process not only within cities but also between cities. The objective of this paper is to measure the factors that affect the evolution of different intensities of knowledge in a region's cities. An adaptation of the OECD knowledge classification is used to divide the industries by knowledge intensity and to model the determinants of these intensities in a spatial context. Results suggest that higher growth rates are associated with higher levels of technology and knowledge. The growth of the different kinds of knowledge is related to local and spatial factors (agglomeration and network externalities) and each knowledge intensity show a particular response to these factors. Algunas teorías recientes de crecimiento regional y desarrollo local enfatizan el papel de la aglomeración y el conocimiento como los principales determinantes del crecimiento, mientras que las teorías de redes urbanas hacen hincapié en que el crecimiento no es solamente un proceso que sucede en las ciudades, sino también entre ellas. El objetivo de este artículo es medir los factores que afectan la evolución de diferentes intensidades de conocimiento en las ciudades de una región. Se ha empleado una adaptación de la clasificación de conocimiento de la OCDE para agrupar las industrias según su intensidad de conocimiento y para elaborar un modelo de los factores determinantes de estas intensidades en un contexto espacial. Los resultados sugieren que las tasas de crecimiento más elevadas están asociadas con niveles más elevados de tecnología y conocimiento. El crecimiento de los diferentes tipos de conocimiento esta relacionado con factores locales y espaciales (externalidades de aglomeración y red) y cada intensidad de conocimiento muestra una respuesta en particular a estos factores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses the impact of economic integration on individual inequality and regional disparity in a model of endogenous growth and geography. Assuming localised learning externalities and perfect mobility of capital, trade integration of economies yields a trade-off for the policy maker because it increases growth and decreases inequality on the one hand, but geographical agglomeration strengthens on the other. However, a policy that aims to improve trade in ideas does not face this trade-off. El artículo analiza el impacto de la integración económica en la inecualidad individual y la disparidad regional en un modelo de crecimiento endógeno y geografía. Asumiendo externalidades de aprendizaje localizadas y una perfecta movilidad de capitales, la integración de comercio de economías crea un trade-off para el formulador de políticas porque por un lado aumenta el crecimiento y disminuye la inecualidad, pero por otro aumenta la aglomeración geográfica. Sin embargo, una política que trate de mejorar un intercambio de ideas no se enfrenta a este trade-off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors present the case of five Canadian peripheral regions, which they argue are destined to decline. The explanation of the reasons why future decline (in absolute population and employment numbers) is inevitable constitutes the article’s central focus. The authors suggest that regional decline will become an increasingly common occurrence in nations at the end of the demographic transition whose economic geographies display centre-periphery relationships. Such broad structural trends cannot be easily altered by public policy. The authors reflect on the implications of regional decline for the formulation of local economic development strategies. Local economic development strategies should not, they argue, be advanced as a means of arresting population and employment decline. To suggest that the regions studied in this article will decline because of a lack of social capital or insufficient number of local entrepreneurs, is not only misleading but may also be counterproductive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of the paper is to analyse the local determinants of innovation in a small European metropolitan region. First, we examine the extent to which geographic space is a determinant of innovation for five intra-regional units. Second, we investigate whether innovation is dependent on accessibility to the mean centre. In both cases we examine innovation propensity and innovation output using microdata from the Community Innovation Survey carried out in Luxembourg. The paper provides evidence of a link between the effects on innovation at the intra-regional level of firms' profiles and agglomeration externalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Trade costs are a crucial element of New Economic Geography (NEG) models. Without trade costs there is no role for geography. In empirical NEG studies the unavailability of direct trade cost data calls for the need to approximate these trade costs by introducing a trade cost function. In doing so, hardly any attention is paid to the (implicit) assumptions and empirical consequences of the particular trade cost function used. Based on a meta-analysis of NEG market access studies as well as on the results of estimating the NEG wage equation for a uniform sample while using different trade costs functions, we show that the relevance of the key NEG variable, market access, depends nontrivially on the choice of trade cost function. Next, we propose an alternative way to approximate trade costs that does not require the specification of a trade cost function, the so called implied trade costs approach. Overall, our results stress that the specification of trade costs can matter a lot for the conclusions reached in any empirical NEG study. We therefore call for a much more careful treatment of trade costs in future empirical NEG studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a simple model of economic geography by which to derive analytical results when jointly considering two centrifugal forces – congestion costs together with the pull demand effect – within the Dixit-Stiglitz-Iceberg framework. In this vein, we develop a unified model with labour mobility that combines some of the features of Tabuchi (1998 ) with those of Forslid and Ottaviano (2003 ). We analytically show that when considering the effects of congestion costs, the dispersion of economic activity is possible not only at high, but also at low transport costs. This result corroborates previous numerical simulations conducted by Tabuchi (1998 ). Resumen. Este artículo propone un modelo sencillo de geografía económica con el que obtener resultados analíticos cuando se consideraran conjuntamente dos fuerzas centrífugas –los costos de congestión y el efecto demanda– dentro del marco Dixit-Stiglitz-Iceberg. Asimismo, desarrollamos un modelo unificado, con movilidad laboral, que combina algunas de las características de Tabuchi (1998) con las de Forslid y Ottaviano (2003). Analíticamente mostramos que cuando se consideraran los efectos de los costos de congestión, la dispersión de la actividad económica es posible no solamente si los costos de transporte son elevados sino también si éstos son bajos. Este resultado corrobora simulaciones numéricas previas realizadas por Tabuchi (1998). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We establish classical business cycles, for New Zealand's 14 regions and aggregate national activity. Regional cycles rarely die of old age but are terminated by particular events. Concordance statistic measures show significant contemporaneous associations between the New Zealand cycle and 11 of the regional cycles. Over half the bi-regional co-movements are not significant. Geographical proximity influences co-movement between regions, as do unusually dry climatic conditions. Neither real national house price movements, nor net migration movements co-move significantly with regional cycle phases. For key regions, movements in New Zealand's terms of trade, milksolids’ prices, dairy land prices and total rural land prices are significant. Rural business cycle activity has therefore remained a remarkably dominant factor. Establecemos ciclos clásicos de empresas, para 14 regiones de Nueva Zelanda y actividad nacional agregada. Los ciclos regionales raramente mueren con el tiempo sino que terminan con eventos específicos. Las medidas estadísticas de concordancia muestran asociaciones contemporáneas significativas entre el ciclo de Nueva Zelanda y 11 de los ciclos regionales. Más de la mitad de los co-movimientos bi-regionales no son significativos. La proximidad geográfica influye en el co-movimiento entre regiones, al igual que las condiciones climáticas inusualmente secas. Ni los movimientos de precios de vivienda nacionales reales, ni los movimientos netos migratorios, muestran un co-movimiento significativo con las fases de ciclos regionales. Para regiones clave, los movimientos en términos neozelandeses de comercio, precios de sólidos lácteos, precios de tierras para explotaciones lecheras, y total de precios de tierras de labor son significativos. La actividad del ciclo de empresas rurales ha permanecido por tanto como un factor dominante. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses participation in the annual European congresses of the Regional Science Association (ERSA) from 1998 through 2003. We formulate goals that the ERSA conferences should aim at and based on these aims we formulate hypotheses about conference participation. In the empirical part we test hypotheses with regard to the spatial distribution of the participants over countries, the distribution of the frequency of attendance among the participants, and the presence of distance decay in participation. All hypotheses are confirmed. We also pay attention to the relation between the frequency of attendance and distance. In the conclusions we derive implications for future conferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research note examines the determinants of economic growth at the sub-national level in South Africa, and investigates cross-regional medium term (1998–2002) growth rate differentials between 354 magisterial districts. A dynamic panel data regression model is used that includes measures of geography (distance and natural resources) as well as recent estimates of physical and human capital. We find that the significant determinants of local economic growth are distance from internal markets, human capital, export propensity, and the capital stock. Distance from international harbours, as a measure of transport costs, and urban agglomeration (or density) affects growth indirectly through its significant effect on the ability of a region to export. Overall, these results indicate that geography is important, independent of its effects on institutions, for economic growth. Bearing in mind a medium-term focus, no evidence of absolute convergence could be found over a five-year period, but the evidence tentatively suggests beta convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent contributions to the regional science literature have considered spatial effects in empirical growth specifications. In the case of spatial dependence, following theoretical arguments from new economic geography, and endogenous growth models, this phenomenon has been associated with the existence of externalities that cross regional borders. However, despite the general consensus that interactions or externalities are likely to be the major source of spatial dependence, they have been modelled in a rather ad hoc manner in most existing empirical studies. In contrast, we advocate basing the analysis on structural growth models which include externalities across economies, applying the appropriate spatial econometrics tools to test for their presence and estimate the magnitude of these externalities in the real world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper analyses the nonlinearities in the impact of localization, diversity, urbanization and competition on firm-level total factor productivity (TFP), using a large sample of Italian firms from 1999 to 2007. We adopt a panel smooth transition regression model, so that the TFP elasticities are free to vary smoothly across two or more extreme values. Results show that localization economies and Jacobian externalities materialize only for values of, respectively, intra-industry agglomeration and extra-sectoral diversity above a certain threshold. Local competition exerts a positive effect on productivity, even though the marginal impact shrinks at high levels of competition. We find instead no evidence of diseconomies of agglomeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does regional unemployment increase or rather decrease entrepreneurial activity? Although this question has been hotly debated among researchers for decades, the answers yielded so far are ambiguous and inconclusive. The paper proposes an innovative approach that takes not only interregional differences in unemployment rates, but also in unemployment duration and the human capital of the unemployed, that is, in the structure of regional unemployment into account. Both, the skill structure of the unemployed and the share of long-term unemployment are found to have an important impact on regional start-up activity. Moreover, the impact of unemployment structure on new firm formation is found to vary with the knowledge-intensity of the start-ups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to provide basic stylized facts about the spatial patterns of location and co-location of clusters of creative industries in Europe. The research proposes a novel methodology for detailing the spatial delimitation of clusters, based on a geo-statistical algorithm and firm-based micro-data. The procedure is applied to a continuous space of 16 European countries and 15 creative industries in 2009. The investigation reveals that creative firms are highly clustered, and that clusters are concentrated in a 'creative belt' stretching from the South of England to the South-east of Germany. These clusters are predominantly metropolitan, heterogeneous, cross borders, and may co-locate to form assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]