DOES CBD THEORY SURVIVE THE TEST OF SMALL CITIES? CITY-SIZE AND SPRAWL IN ITALY

Gianni GUASTELLA

Università Cattolica, Dep of Mathematics and Physics, 41Via Musei, 25121, Brescia (IT)
giovanni.guastella@unicatt.it
Corresponding author

Stefano PAREGLIO

Università Cattolica, Dep of Mathematics and Physics, 41Via Musei, 25121, Brescia (IT)
stefano.pareglio@unicatt.it

Abstract

Economic theory predicts that the equilibrium of different economic forces explains the spatial scale of a city more than the uncontrolled take of agricultural land, which is considered instead as urban sprawl. A wide range of empirical results based on US data for large urban areas supports this hypothesis, showing that the socio-economic and environmental forces explain a vast portion of the variation in urbanization across cities. In this paper, we ask whether these socio-economic forces are relevant also in small cities and if they are in a different manner, provided that sprawling phenomena may occur more easily in small areas due to the larger availability of agricultural land. To answer the question, we estimate the relationship between city size and the socio-economic and environmental forces using data for small and large municipalities in the Lombardy region, Italy, and test to what extent this model is apt to explain size variations. We find that the model is adequate also in the case of small cities but differentiating small from large cities suggests that the sprawl hypothesis cannot be ruled out by the empirical evidence as the process of land conversion from agricultural to urban is substantially faster in small and medium-sized cities compared to large ones.

Keywords: Land Use, Urban Sprawl, Central Business District, Spatial Econometrics, Italy

JEL classification: O18, Q15, R14

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NON-LINEAR REGIONAL INCOME DIVERGENCE AND POLICIES: TURKEY CASE

Hasan Engin DURAN

Izmir Institute of Technology, City and Regional Planning Department,Assistant Professor of Economics, Gülbahce Kampüsü, Izmir Yüksek Teknoloji Ensitüsü, Mimarlık Fakültesi, Şehir ve bölge Planlama Bölümü, Urla-Izmir,  Tel: +90 506 845 59 83
enginduran@iyte.edu.tr

Abstract

The literature on economic convergence is strongly influenced by Neo-Classical Growth model. It describes a monotone saddle path along which each economy converges towards a unique steady state. Commonly employed method in convergence analysis is the linear cross-sectional regressions which links the annual growth rate of regions to their initial income level. Ignoring the non-linearities is important from a policy perspective that implications obtained from a linear regression can be very different to the policies learned from a non-linear case. Aim of the present study is to analyze regional income convergence in Turkey by using nonparametric convergence regressions. We implement our study for 67 provinces and a period 1975-2000. We find that the relationship between initial income and growth takes a  inverted-U shape which means that the very low-income and high-income group of provinces experince a slow growth pattern compared to middle-income group. This has several implications for regional economic policies. First, middle-income provinces are able to stimulate their economies and fulfill their potential for convergence by market forces. Second, however, the very low-income provinces need a substantial help and assistance.It, therefore,  becomes a natural necessity to direct policy instruments such as subsidies, direct and indirect income transfers, tax exemptions and other resources  to these areas. In this way, nonparametric estimations provide a very useful guide to the way how the resources should be allocated across provinces.

Keywords: Convergence, nonparametric regressions, Regional Policies

JEL classification: R11, R12
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THE ROLE OF SMES IN SUSTAINABLE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL BUSINESS INTEGRATION: THE CASE OF LUBLIN REGION (POLAND)

Anna ARENT

Faculty of Management – Lublin University of Technology, Poland, http://en.pollub.pl/
a.arent@pollub.pl

Matylda BOJAR

Faculty of Management – Lublin University of Technology, Poland, http://en.pollub.pl/
m.bojar@pollub.pl

Francisco DINIZ

Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies (CETRAD); Quinta dos Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal, http://www.cetrad.info/
fdiniz@utad.pt

Nelson DUARTE

School of Management and Technology of Felgueiras – Polytechnic of Porto – CIICESI, www.estgf.ipp.pt, and CETRAD http://www.cetrad.info/, Portugal
nduarte@estgf.ipp.pt

Abstract

This paper analyses the role of SMEs in regional development, focusing the particular case of Lublin Region in Poland. This study aims, in a first stage, to analyse entrepreneurs’ view of their role in local and regional development, by the adoption of sustainability strategies. After that, it will also be explored the relation between sustainable development and other variables such as: business local integration, firm age, number of years in the actual location, or firm legal form. The methodology adopted was the questionnaire, in order to get entrepreneurs opinion. 314 questionnaires were answered by managers from SMEs operating the in region of Lublin, acting the in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Results show the economic perspective as the major concern of entrepreneurs. Most of firms present a proactive attitude towards to sustainable development – older firms present a greater concern with social and environmental issues. It was also identified the existence of high levels of local integration. However, firms that are operating behind regional frontiers are promoting a more efficient local development than local acting firms.

Keywords: SMEs, Sustainable Development, Local/Regional Development

JEL classification: M10, O14, O18, O44

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