Dots to Boxes: Do the Size and Shape of Spatial Units Jeopardize Economic Geography Estimations?
40 Pages Posted: 2 Dec 2008
Date Written: August 2008
Abstract
This paper evaluates, in the context of economic geography estimates, the magnitude of the distortions arising from the choice of zoning system, which is also known as the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP). We consider three standard economic geography exercises (the analysis of spatial concentration, agglomeration economies, and trade determinants), using various French zoning systems differentiated according to the size and shape of spatial units, which are the two main determinants of the MAUP. While size matters a little, shape does so much less. Both dimensions seem to be of secondary importance compared to specification issues.
Keywords: agglomeration, concentration, gravity, MAUP, wage equation
JEL Classification: C10, C43, O18, R12, R23
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?
Recommended Papers
-
Can Business and Social Networks Explain the Border Effect Puzzle?
By Pierre-philippe Combes, Miren Lafourcade, ...
-
Ethnic Networks and U.S. Exports
By Subhayu Bandyopadhyay, Cletus C. Coughlin, ...
-
Ethnic Networks and U.S. Exports, Second Version
By Subhayu Bandyopadhyay, Cletus C. Coughlin, ...