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City size and the Henry George theorem under monopolistic competition

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Author Info
BEHRENS, Kristian
MURATA, Yasusada

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Abstract

We analyze the equilibrium and the optimal resource allocations in a monocentric city under monopolistic competition. Unlike the constant elasticity of substitution (CES) case, where the equilibrium markups are independent of the city size, we present a variable elasticity of substitution (VES) case where the equilibrium markups fall with the city size. We then show that,due to excess entry triggered by such pro-competitive effects, the 'golden rule' of local public finance, i.e., the Henry George theorem (HGT), does not hold in the second best. We finally prove, within our framework, that the HGT holds in the second best if and only if: (i) the second-best allocation is first-best efficient, which turns out to be equivalent to the CES case;or (ii) a marginal change in the city size has no impact on equilibrium product diversity at the second best.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE) in its series CORE Discussion Papers with number 2007063.

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Date of creation: 01 Aug 2007
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Handle: RePEc:cor:louvco:2007063

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Related research
Keywords: city size; Henry George theorem; monopolistic competition; first-best and second-best allocations; variable elasticity;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure and Pricing - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
R12 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
R13 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General Equilibrium and Welfare Economic Analysis of Regional Economies

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  1. Murata, Yasusada & Thisse, Jacques-Francois, 2005. "A simple model of economic geography a la Helpman-Tabuchi," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(1), pages 137-155, July. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  2. Flatters, Frank & Henderson, Vernon & Mieszkowski, Peter, 1974. "Public goods, efficiency, and regional fiscal equalization," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(2), pages 99-112, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  12. Fujita, Masahisa & Mori, Tomoya & Henderson, J. Vernon & Kanemoto, Yoshitsugu, 2004. "Spatial distribution of economic activities in Japan and China," Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, in: J. V. Henderson & J. F. Thisse (ed.), Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, edition 1, volume 4, chapter 65, pages 2911-2977 Elsevier. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  15. Thomas J. Holmes, 1999. "Scale of Local Production and City Size," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 89(2), pages 317-320, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  16. Fujita, Masahisa & Krugman, Paul & Mori, Tomoya, 1999. "On the evolution of hierarchical urban systems1," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 209-251, February. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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