We extend the standard economic geography model by introducing regional differences in technology levels and by assuming that initial technological gaps may be closed only when the learning capabilities of the lagging region are sufficiently developed. Interregional knowledge spill-overs take...

So far the contribution of New Economic Geography (NEG) has been mainly positive. Normative analysis and policy implications have lagged behind. The reason is the fear of the consequences of taking too literally the neat structure of the models. Under this respect the somewhat incautious aim of...

The notion of 'polycentric city system' is currently receiving growing attention as a basic element of the 'European Spatial Policy'. From this perspective, both agglomeration and economic integration have to be reinterpreted on a wider geographical scale. This is of interest of the s.c....

This paper surveys the growing literature on the home market effects (HMEs) in spatial economics. The HMEs are utilized to disclose the role of country size in the configuration of economic activity. Various HMEs display distinctive features of size advantage and they are originally obtained...

Economic integration affects economic development through two main channels: growth and localization of the economic activities. The theories of endogenous growth and economic geography enable us to understand these mechanisms. We study in this paper their similarities and specificities before...

This paper sets up a two country monopolistic competition model with intra-industry trade to study the effects of an exogenous differential in wage and social policies on the location of industry. Two model scenarios are considered. In the traditional one with physical capital, such a...

This paper discusses how international trade is organized from export to trans-boundary transport to import. All evidence suggests that the transport sector is independent, may exercise market power and features strong economies of scale. We develop a model of a transport industry that operates...