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Economic Role of Population Density

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  • Yuri Yegorov

Abstract

The role of population density for economic activity was neglected in most part of economic theory. This paper is a review and extension of the previous works of the author in this field. So far, densities did not become common economic variables in economic analysis, and two countries with different densities of population and infrastructure but similar in macroeconomic parameters are treated as similar. One of the presented models is about an influence of population density on infrastructure development, and later on country potential for economic growth (Yegorov 2005a). Self-organization of production activity in space is elaboration of the ideas of von Thunen. When a city emerges as a center of industrial activity, it deforms the space, and agricultural land rent becomes a function of distance due to transport cost to bring the good to the market. Population density plays an important role in harvesting societies, i.e. those that depend on agriculture and natural resources. Too high population density decreases the natural endowment per capita, but eases the development of infrastructure, leading to existence of an optimal population density for economic growth (Yegorov, 2009). The trade-off between scale economies and transport costs leads to an optimal area served by a local monopolist. In the world with low population density competition might not even emerge because even monopolist can become bankrupt due to low demand density, especially in the environment of high transport costs. Such situation took place on the most part of Russian territory after liberalization that also lead to an increase in relative transport costs. Population density also can play role for an optimal size of a country. While there are many other reasons (mostly historical), spatial structure is also important. Land area of a country is considered as some capital bringing rent from natural resource extraction. The length of a border requires protection efforts and thus is a first type of cost. Commuting with the capital is another type of cost, and here the population density also matters. All these 3 factors enter with different power, and optimization with respect to linear scale give different results (Yegorov, 2005b). Literature 1. Yegorov Y. (2005a) Role of Density and Field in Spatial Economics. ? In: Yee Lawrence (Ed). ?Contemporary Issues in Urban and Regional Economics?. Nova Science Publishers, 2005, N.Y., p.55-78. 2. Yegorov Y. (2005b) Dynamically Sustainable Economic Equilibria as Self-Organized Atomic Structures (2005b) ? In: M.Salzano, A.Kirman, Eds., ?Economics: Complex Windows?, Springer-Verlag Italia, 2005, p.187-199 3. Yegorov Y. (2009) Socio-economic influences of population density. - Chinese Business Review, vol.8, No. 7, p.1-12.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuri Yegorov, 2015. "Economic Role of Population Density," ERSA conference papers ersa15p207, European Regional Science Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa15p207
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    File URL: https://www-sre.wu.ac.at/ersa/ersaconfs/ersa15/e150825aFinal00207.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Beckmann, Martin J. & Thisse, Jacques-Francois, 1987. "The location of production activities," Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, in: P. Nijkamp (ed.), Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 2, pages 21-95, Elsevier.
    2. Fujita,Masahisa, 1991. "Urban Economic Theory," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521396455, November.
    3. Albrecht Kauffmann, 2007. "Transport Costs and the Size of Cities : the Case of Russia," Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge 93, Universität Potsdam, Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliche Fakultät.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yuri Yegorov & Dieter Grass & Magda Mirescu & Gustav Feichtinger & Franz Wirl, 2020. "Growth and Collapse of Empires: A Dynamic Optimization Model," Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, Springer, vol. 186(2), pages 620-643, August.
    2. Kyriaki I. Kafka, 2024. "The Dual Pillars of Progress: Institutional and Cultural Dynamics in Economic Development," Economies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-24, March.
    3. Kafka, Kyriaki I. & Kostis, Pantelis C., 2021. "Post-materialism and economic growth: Cultural backlash, 1981–2019," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 901-917.

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    JEL classification:

    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • Q10 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - General
    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • R40 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - General

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