Political economy of city sizes and formation

Citation
V. Henderson et R. Becker, Political economy of city sizes and formation, J URBAN EC, 48(3), 2000, pp. 453-484
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Economics
Journal title
JOURNAL OF URBAN ECONOMICS
ISSN journal
00941190 → ACNP
Volume
48
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Pages
453 - 484
Database
ISI
SICI code
0094-1190(200011)48:3<453:PEOCSA>2.0.ZU;2-#
Abstract
There are two paradigms of city formation and size-the competitive model of large-scale land developers operating in national land markets and the sel f-organization model of agglomeration. This paper examines the effects of l ocal politics, urban classes, and restrictions in national land markets on city size and formation. It starts by introducing local politics into the t wo paradigms. Then it turns to a growth situation, where land developers in itiate new settlements, but existing cities are either self-organized or go verned locally. The paper also examines the politics of local no-growth mov ements and of governance of specially favored mega-cities. (C) 2000 Academi c Press.