ABSTRACT

Through an analysis of total factor productivity for European regions using an econometric identification strategy, we find that significant impacts exist for both urban size and structure. A larger urban size positively affects regional productivity. Polycentric urban structures have no directly identified impacts on productivity. We find that an interaction between urban size and polycentricity has a negative effect, suggesting that polycentric regions are unable to substitute for the economic urbanization externalities associated with a single large city. These findings have important implications for the European Union-wide policy agenda on urban development and regional productivity.

摘要

通过使用计量经济学识别策略分析欧洲地区的全要素生产率，我们发现城市规模和结构都存在重大影响。更大的城市规模会对区域生产力产生积极影响。多中心城市结构对生产力没有直接影响。我们发现城市规模和多中心性之间的相互作用具有负面影响，表明多中心区域无法替代与单个大城市相关的经济城市化外部性。这些发现对欧盟范围内关于城市发展和区域生产力的政策议程具有重要意义。