Showing papers by "Martijn Burger published in 2010"

Spatial Structure and Productivity in US Metropolitan Areas

Abstract: Recent concepts such as ‘megaregions' and ‘polycentric urban regions' emphasize that external economies are not confined to a single urban core, but are shared among a collection of nearby and link...

Functional Polycentrism and Urban Network Development in the Greater South East, United Kingdom: Evidence from Commuting Patterns, 1981–2001

Abstract: In contemporary literature on changing urban systems, it is often argued that the traditional central place conceptualisation is outdated and should be replaced by a network view that emphasises the increasing criss-crossing pattern of interdependencies between spatial units. This paper tests for urban network development by looking at commuting patterns in the Greater South East UK. The analysis is based on census commuting interaction data for three points in time during the past three decades (1981, 1991, and 2001). Although the empirical results indicate that the Greater South East UK can still not be characterized as a polycentric urban region or integrated urban network, there is some evidence for urban network development at the local, intra-urban, level as well as a decentralization of the system at the regional, inter-urban, level.

On the Economic Foundation of the Urban Network Paradigm: Spatial Integration, Functional Integration and Economic Complementarities within the Dutch Randstad:

Abstract: Conceptually, the degrees of spatial and functional integration and urban complementarities in economic network relations are hypothesised to be important. In this paper, data on interfirm relations in the Dutch Randstad are used to test conditions for integration and the existence of economic complementarities. A clear hierarchy is observed in the different types of spatial interdependencies in the Randstad, in which the central place model prevails. Furthermore, no evidence is found for the functional integration of municipalities in the Randstad. It is concluded that, at this moment, the Randstad does not function as a spatially and functionally integrated region and that spatial economic policy can better focus on smaller regions within the Randstad. This also calls into question the applicability of the urban network concept in general, as the Dutch Randstad is usually seen as a prime example of an economically successful polycentric urban system.

The Geography of Chinese and Indian Greenfield Investments in Europe

Abstract: Using a dataset of greenfield investments for the period of 1997-2008, the paper by three Dutch researchers seeks to determine to what extent Chinese and Indian foreign direct investment (FDI) in Europe is attracted to specific regional location factors. The authors utilize descriptive statistics and a negative binominal estimation method to analyze the number of greenfield investments, in an effort to explain why Chinese and Indian FDI is quite unevenly distributed across Europe. Support is marshaled for the hypothesis that Chinese and Indian FDI is more horizontal than vertical in character, and that divergence over time between current core European locations and more peripheral ones is increasing. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: F210, O160, L200. 6 figures, 1 table, 54 references.

Foreign Direct Investment, China and the World Economy

Abstract: Foreign Direct Investment, China and the World Economy, Peter J. Buckley, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke (2010). xi + 437 pp. £55.00 (hbk). ISBN 978 0 230 51598 7. Although not well known in econo...

House Prices, Bubbles and City Size

Abstract: We build a theoretical model that relates house price, city size and the expected future growth of demand for housing. Our model combines the Alonso-Mills model on urban economics with insights from financial economics on house prices. Estimating the model for cities in the US, we empirically validate the positive effect of city size on urban house prices. Moreover, our estimations confirm that an (unrealistic) increase in the expected growth of demand fuelled by the widespread availability of credit provides a better explanation for the recent bubble than inelastic housing supply that explained earlier bubbles.