City formation with complex landscapes |
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Authors: | James R Fain |
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Institution: | Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA |
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Abstract: | Using simulation methods I explore some of the properties of the new economic geography model using a complex landscape. I introduce landscape complexity by allowing the existence of limited pathways that can be traversed at a lower cost than most other paths. I also introduce a river that may be crossed at limited points and may be used to transport goods. I find that adding complexity substantially alters how many cities form and where they form. Compared with a simple landscape, complex landscapes produce a distribution of city sizes that more closely resemble the actual distribution of city sizes. |
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Keywords: | new economic geography complex landscapes simulations transportation costs |
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