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Spatial concentration in Latin America and the role of institutions

Author

Listed:
  • Aroca, Patricio

    (CEPR, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Chile)

  • Atienza, Miguel

    (IDEAR, Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile)

Abstract

Spatial concentration in Latin America, especially in the southern cone, reaches high levels in all dimensions. Despite significant economic growth in the last two decades, trade openness, the return to democratic regimes and reductions in the Gini coefficients the primacy indexes of most Latin American countries remain relatively constant and among the highest in the world. This situation challenges most regional and urban economics theories that predict a reduction in spatial concentration as development proceeds, after an initial period of concentration. Furthermore, Latin American countries could be trapped in processes of agglomeration without growth. The objective of this article is twofold: first, we describe some characteristics of spatial concentration and its persistence in Latin America with special emphasis in the case of Chile; and second, we propose future research lines related to the need of rebalancing Latin American spatial economies focusing on the importance of institutions as an explanation of the persistence of spatial concentration.

Suggested Citation

  • Aroca, Patricio & Atienza, Miguel, 2016. "Spatial concentration in Latin America and the role of institutions," INVESTIGACIONES REGIONALES - Journal of REGIONAL RESEARCH, Asociación Española de Ciencia Regional, issue 36, pages 233-253.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:invreg:0334
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Miguel Atienza & Martín Arias‐Loyola & Nicholas Phelps, 2021. "Gateways or backdoors to development? Filtering mechanisms and territorial embeddedness in the Chilean copper GPN’s urban system," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(1), pages 88-110, March.
    2. Juan Manuel Aristizábal & Gustavo A. García, 2021. "Regional economic growth and convergence: The role of institutions and spillover effects in Colombia," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(4), pages 1146-1161, August.
    3. Frick, Susanne A. & Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés, 2018. "Change in urban concentration and economic growth," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 156-170.
    4. Victor Iturra, 2018. "Amenity Decomposition: The Role Played by Firms and Workers in Explaining Spatial Wage Differences in Chile," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 109(4), pages 542-560, September.
    5. Belen Barroeta & Javier Gomez Prieto & Jonatan Paton & Manuel Palazuelos Martinez & Marcelino Cabrera Giraldez, 2017. "Innovation and Regional Specialisation in Latin America," JRC Research Reports JRC106043, Joint Research Centre.
    6. Andrés Niembro & Jésica Sarmiento, 2021. "Regional development gaps in Argentina: A multidimensional approach to identify the location of policy priorities," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(4), pages 1297-1327, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Spatial concentration; Latin America; spatially blind policies; institutions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • O54 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Latin America; Caribbean
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy

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