A Dynamic Theory of the Urban Network
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Series
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Speaker(s)Benoît Schmutz (CREST, Institut Polytechnique de Paris)
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FieldSpatial Economics
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LocationTinbergen Institute Amsterdam
Amsterdam -
Date and time
September 28, 2023
12:00 - 13:00
Abstract
We propose a dynamic model of the urban network based on locational advantage and frictional labor mobility. Despite CRS production and matching technologies, and uniform underlying distribution of production factors, the steady-state equilibrium replicates key features of the spatial economy: (i) highly skewed city size distribution, mirrored in migration flows; (ii) sorting of more productive workers and firms into larger cities; (iii) higher positive assortative matching between employees and employers in larger cities. Joint work with Modibo Sidibe.