New Directions In Economic Geography

‘This book is a serious attempt to cover all of the relevant subdisciplines in the geographical economics framework. . . I would recommend the book to students of economic geography, regional economics, and related disciplines.’
– Frans Boekema, Journal of Regional Science

‘. . . this book is empirically and theoretically comprehensive in its scope. The nearly eighteen authors who have contributed to this book present a truly transatlantic perspective on NEG. . . this volume will be extremely useful to those dealing with rigorous modelling to examine spatial issues in economics, geography and planning.’
– Rajiv Thakur, Regional Science Policy and Practice

‘I recommend the book. . . The papers of a high quality, well written and organized; empirical analyses are based on the most advanced empirical techniques, and the reader enjoys their application.’
– Roberta Capello, Growth and Change

‘A very interesting volume indeed, recommended reading for everyone interested in theorizing space in economics or working in the empirical spatial-economic research arena.’
– Economic Geography Research Group

This important book explores original and alternative directions for economic geography following the revolution precipitated by the advent of so-called ‘new economic geography’ (NEG).

Whilst, to some extent, the volume could be regarded as part of the inevitable creative destruction of NEG theory, it does promote the continuing role of theoretical and empirical contributions within spatial economic analysis, in which the rationale of scientific analysis and economic logic maintain a central place. With contributions from leading experts in the field, the book presents a comprehensive analysis of the extent to which NEG theory is supported in the real world. By exploring whether NEG theory can be effectively applied to provide practical insights, the authors highlight novel approaches, emerging trends, and promising new lines of enquiry in the wake of advances made by NEG.

Rigorous yet engaging, this book will be an essential tool for academics and researchers specialising in regional studies, urban and spatial economics and economic geography. It will also have widespread appeal amongst policymakers involved in planning and land use.

Contents:

Introduction
Bernard Fingleton

1. New Economic Geography: Some Preliminaries
Bernard Fingleton

2. Models of ‘New Economic Geography’: Factor Mobility vs. Vertical Linkages
Gianmarco I.P. Ottaviano

3. Testing the ‘New Economic Geography’: A Comparative Analysis Based on EU Regional Data
Bernard Fingleton

4. From Theory to Estimation and Back: The Empirical Relevance of the New Economic Geography
Steven Brakman and Harry Garretsen

5. Agglomeration and Growth in the NEG: A Critical Assessment
Fabio Cerina and Francesco Pigliaru

6. Sinking the Iceberg? On the Treatment of Transport Costs in New Economic Geography
Bernard Fingleton and Philip McCann

7. Specialization and Regional Size
John Dewhurst and Philip McCann

8. A Non-parametric Analysis of Productivity, Efficiency and Technical Change in EU Regional Manufacturing, 1986–2002
Mark Roberts, John S.L. McCombie and Alvaro Angeriz

9. A Methodology for Evaluating Regional Political Economy
Paul Plummer and Eric Sheppard

10. FDI: A Difficult Connection between Theory and Empirics
Anna Soci

11. Agglomeration and Internet Exchange Points: An Exploration of the Internet Morphology
Alessio D’Ignazio and Emanuele Giovannetti

12. Explaining the Scarce Returns of European Structural Policies from a New Economic Geography Perspective
Andrés Rodríguez-Pose and Ugo Fratesi

Index