Giants and midgets: The effect of public goods provision on urban population concentration

《Giants and midgets: The effect of public goods provision on urban population concentration》

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作者单位: Department of Economics, University of Göttingen, Platz der Göttinger Sieben 3, 37073 Göttingen, Germany;Department of Economics, University of Göttingen, Platz der Göttinger Sieben 3, 37073 Göttingen, Germany

摘要: This paper analyses explains population distribution within a system of cities with availability of public goods in the country and provides an explanation for the existence of urban giants in developing economies. The article argues that (1) differences in public goods provision cause disproportionate population growth of the primate cities; (2) better provision of public goods at the national level decreases the difference between growth rates of the primate agglomeration and the hinterland; (3) low provision of public goods at the national level leads to the emergence of urban giants. These findings are especially relevant for developing countries, where rapid urbanisation is currently taking place.