The second edition explores the economic factors driving diverse agglomerations, examining their presence from a global scale down to local contexts. It delves into the reasons behind these clusters and their implications for economic development, offering insights into how geography and economics intersect in shaping communities and industries.
Utilizing a spatial economics approach, the book explores the recent vibrancy of the global economy, emphasizing developments in East Asia. It delves into the region's economic dynamics and assesses the potential for enhanced regional integration, offering insights into how geographical factors influence economic interactions and growth within this vital area.
Focusing on the economic motivations behind residential choices, the book develops a unified theory of urban land use and city size through the bid rent function. It begins with a microeconomic analysis of household location behavior, discussing equilibrium and optimal land use and city sizes. The second part builds on classical theories by incorporating external factors like public goods, congestion, and racial prejudice. Its rigorous mathematical approach appeals to researchers in urban economics, geography, and planning.
The authors show how a common approach that emphasizes the three-way interaction among increasing returns, transportation costs, and the movement of productive factors can be applied to a wide range of issues in urban, regional, and international economics.