Spatial Structures

The theme of this book is the emergence and survival of spatial economic structures. How are economic structures created in an otherwise homogeneous environment? The answer is found through an analysis of economic forces that operate in the two dimensional continuum of space. And here economies of scale are found to be paramount. First, the genesis of economic centers is examined by means of a bifurcation model. This leads to a reexamination of the von Thünen model of city and hinterland. Next, the shape and size of Löschian market areas is studied. At the core of the book is a detailed analysis of Hotelling's migration model. Solutions are given for the steady state. The general theme of order from disorder is taken up in the final chapters of this book. Topics from the economics of location, transportation, and migration are treated in models that try to capture the two-dimensional nature of economic space. The reader is introduced to recent techniques in this field