Agglomeration and Growth: Cross-Country Evidence

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_C3AD631458FC
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Agglomeration and Growth: Cross-Country Evidence
Journal
Journal of Urban Economics
Author(s)
Brülhart M., Sbergami F.
ISSN
0094-1190
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2009
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
65
Number
1
Pages
48-63
Language
english
Abstract
We investigate the impact of within-country spatial concentration of economic activity on country-level growth, using cross-section OLS and dynamic panel GMM estimation. Agglomeration is measured alternatively through urbanization shares and through indices of spatial concentration based on data for sub-national regions. Across estimation techniques, data sets and variable definitions, we find evidence that supports the "Williamson hypothesis": agglomeration boosts GDP growth only up to a certain level of economic development. The critical level is estimated at some USD 10,000, corresponding roughly to the current per-capita income level of Brazil or Bulgaria. Hence, the tradeoff between national growth and inter-regional equality may gradually lose its relevance. Our results also imply that, in terms of foregone growth, the cost of policies that inhibit economic agglomeration is highest in the poorest countries.
Keywords
Economic growth, Agglomeration, Urbanization, Dynamic panel estimation
Web of science
Create date
20/08/2008 13:25
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:38
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