TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS AND THE LOCATION OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES

The impact of transportation networks on the location of human activit ies is a surprisingly neglected topic In economic geography. Using the simple plant location problem, this paper investigates such an impact in the case of a few idealized networks. It is seen that a grid netwo rk tends to foster a dispersed pattern of activities, while the center of a radial network acts as an attractor. The case of two economies c haracterized by different network configurations that form a custom un ion is then analyzed. It is shown that the structural properties of th e networks still hold, though some locations are pulled toward the com mon border This suggests that no such relocation should be expected wi thin the European Union if the stare members endorse similar fiscal an d social policies after the formation of the single market.