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Urbanization, Agglomeration, and Economic Development

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  • John M. Quigley

Abstract

This paper reviews the linkages between urbanization and economic development. It articulates the relationship between urban density and potential increases in productivity, through specialization, complementarities in production, through the diffusion of knowledge and mimicry, and simply through size and scale. The factors limiting the efficient sizes of cities are analyzed. The paper reviews empirical knowledge, from underdeveloped countries as well as high-income industrial societies, about the importance and magnitudes of these productivity gains. The analysis documents the close link between gains in economic efficiency and the urbanization of populations in most parts of the world.

Suggested Citation

  • John M. Quigley, 2008. "Urbanization, Agglomeration, and Economic Development," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 28042.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbpubs:28042
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    13. Long Thanh Giang & Cuong Viet Nguyen & Tuyen Quang Tran & Vu Thieu, 2017. "Does Firm Agglomeration Matter to Labor and Education of Local Children? Evidence in Vietnam," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 10(4), pages 1015-1041, December.
    14. Nguyen, Cuong, 2012. "Does Urbanization Help Poverty Reduction in Rural Areas?Evidence from a Developing Country," MPRA Paper 48660, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Nguyen Viet Cuong, 2014. "Does Urbanization Help Poverty Reduction in Rural Areas? Evidence from a Developing Country," Working Papers 2014-178, Department of Research, Ipag Business School.
    16. Maha Al-Jebouri & Ahmad F. Oran & Ghazi Al-Assaf, 2020. "The Impact of Urban Concentration on Economic Growth: An Empirical Investigation for a Sample of Countries," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 10(4), pages 116-124.
    17. Nelunika Priyashani & Nayomi Kankanamge & Tan Yigitcanlar, 2023. "Multisource Open Geospatial Big Data Fusion: Application of the Method to Demarcate Urban Agglomeration Footprints," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-23, February.
    18. Zhang, Xun & Wan, Guanghua & Luo, Zhi & Wang, Chen, 2019. "Explaining the East Asia miracle: The role of urbanization," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 1-1.
    19. Wan, Guanghua & Luo, Zhi & Zhang, Xun, 2017. "Urbanizing with Equity Consideration," ADBI Working Papers 642, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    20. Yusuf , Shahid & Nabeshima, Kaoru, 2009. "Can Malaysia escape the middle-income Trap ? a strategy for Penang," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4971, The World Bank.
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    22. Hongbo Wang & Dan Rickman, 2020. "Housing Price and Population Growth across China: The Role of Housing Supply," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 43(3), pages 203-228, May.

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