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Structural, Experimentalist, And Descriptive Approaches To Empirical Work In Regional Economics

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  • Thomas J. Holmes

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ABSTRACT The three general approaches to empirical work in economics are structural, experimentalist, and descriptive. This paper provides an overview of how empirical work in regional economics fits into these three categories. In particular, I examine a single issue in the field, the nature of agglomeration benefits and the productivity gains from agglomeration, and analyze the advantages and drawbacks of following each of these three empirical approaches. I also discuss potentially fruitful ways empirical work in regional economics might advance.

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  • Thomas J. Holmes, 2010. "Structural, Experimentalist, And Descriptive Approaches To Empirical Work In Regional Economics," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1), pages 5-22, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jregsc:v:50:y:2010:i:1:p:5-22
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9787.2009.00637.x
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    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9787.2009.00637.x
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    3. Pierre-Philippe Combes & Gilles Duranton & Laurent Gobillon, 2011. "The identification of agglomeration economies," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 11(2), pages 253-266, March.
    4. Henry G. Overman, 2010. "“Gis A Job”: What Use Geographical Information Systems In Spatial Economics?," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1), pages 165-180, February.
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    6. Lauren Lanahan, 2016. "Multilevel public funding for small business innovation: a review of US state SBIR match programs," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 41(2), pages 220-249, April.
    7. Diego Puga, 2010. "The Magnitude And Causes Of Agglomeration Economies," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1), pages 203-219, February.
    8. Stef Proost & Jacques-François Thisse, 2019. "What Can Be Learned from Spatial Economics?," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 57(3), pages 575-643, September.
    9. repec:esx:essedp:729 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Békés, Gábor & Harasztosi, Péter, 2013. "Agglomeration premium and trading activity of firms," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 51-64.
    11. Breinlich, Holger & Ottaviano, Gianmarco I.P. & Temple, Jonathan R.W., 2014. "Regional Growth and Regional Decline," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.),Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 4, pages 683-779, Elsevier.
    12. Mark D. Partridge & Marlon Boarnet & Steven Brakman & Gianmarco Ottaviano, 2012. "Introduction: Whither Spatial Econometrics?," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(2), pages 167-171, May.
    13. Elena G. Irwin & Andrew M. Isserman & Maureen Kilkenny & Mark D. Partridge, 2010. "A Century of Research on Rural Development and Regional Issues," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 92(2), pages 522-553.
    14. Vassilis Tselios, 2014. "The Granger-causality between income and educational inequality: a spatial cross-regressive VAR framework," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 53(1), pages 221-243, August.
    15. Casaburi, Lorenzo & Minerva, G. Alfredo, 2011. "Production in advance versus production to order: The role of downstream spatial clustering and product differentiation," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(1), pages 32-46, July.
    16. Dan S. Rickman, 2010. "Modern Macroeconomics And Regional Economic Modeling," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1), pages 23-41, February.
    17. M. Rose Olfert & Mark D. Partridge, 2010. "Best Practices in Twenty‐First‐Century Rural Development and Policy," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(2), pages 147-164, June.
    18. Carlianne Patrick & Amanda Ross & Heather Stephens, 2016. "Designing Policies to Spur Economic Growth: How Regional Scientists Can Contribute to Future Policy Development and Evaluation," Working Papers 16-04, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    19. Philipp Breidenbach & Timo Mitze & Christoph Schmidt, 2011. "Evaluating EU Regional Policy: Many Empirical Specifications, One (Unpleasant) Result," ERSA conference papers ersa11p1144, European Regional Science Association.
    20. Mark D. Partridge & Dan S. Rickman, 2012. "Integrating Regional Economic Development Analysis and Land Use Economics," Economics Working Paper Series 1203, Oklahoma State University, Department of Economics and Legal Studies in Business.
    21. repec:elg:eechap:14395_7 is not listed on IDEAS
    22. Edward Feser, 2013. "Isserman’s Impact," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 36(1), pages 44-68, January.
    23. Andrew F. Haughwout, 2010. "Management Of Large City Regions: Designing Efficient Metropolitan Fiscal Policies," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1), pages 401-421, February.

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