Abstract
The hypothesis of the research is that networks of cities generate external network economies. Therefore, the objective of this research is to advance the study of whether networks of cities generate external economies that influence economic growth and development.The unit of analysis is the urban unit. The urban unit (city, municipality) is an intermediate economic unit between the productive process and the economic system as whole. The research is structured in four parts: the first part, of theoretical nature, introduces the paradigm of networks of cities (chapter 1), the foundations of the network economies (chapter 2), and a collection of documented cases of networks of cities (chapter 3); the second part is dedicated to the design of methodologies for the identification of networks of cities (chapter 4), and its application to a case study of the municipalities of Catalonia (chapter 5); the third part is dedicated to the design of methodologies for the measurement of the external network economies (chapter 6), and its application to the case study (chapter 7); chapter 8 introduces the economic policy associated to the networks of cities, and chapter 9 offers the general conclusions of the research.
The main conclusion is that there is a causal relationship between the organization of the economic units forming networks of cities and the generation of external economies that influence economic growth.
| Date of Award | 15 May 2003 |
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| Original language | Spanish |
| Supervisor | Joan Trullen Thomas (Director) |