Town economics

Abstract

"The aim of Chapter 7 is to give an overview of the current understanding of the economic nature and way of functioning of a town. In addition to this it is a question of the most important characteristics in a hierarchy of towns along with a number of statements about the development of urban systems. According to our approach, economic factors do not only explain the existence of towns but also underlie the worldwide process of urbanisation. The chapter is structured as follows: First Section 7.2 elaborates certain basic empirical facts. Section 7.3 examines the economic advantages that a town offers from the theoretical perspective. Section 7.4 asks what size of town is optimal. Section 7.5 is devoted to the structure of rents for housing and household decisions on where to live in the town." (Text excerpt, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Lee, G. & Möller, J. (2012): Stadtökonomik. In: J. Bröcker & M. Fritsch (Hrsg.) (2012): Ökonomische Geographie, p. 135-153.