Four Studies in Theoretical Spatial Economics

Abstract

In what follows, four research topics in theoretical spatial economics are presented, topics which have been worked on recently. They start with two so-called "Tinbergen-Bos Systems" (TBS) analyses. The first is a check on the empirical presence of "Tinbergen hierarchies" in Dutch microregional data; the hypothesis is not rejected. The second develops two theoretical aspects: the computation of non-allowable TBS (supply of some goods and/or services being absent) and the solution via continuous linear programming (CLP) of Tinbergen-Bos metricised systems. This CLP approach can be found back in an essay, the third one, on the maximal flow capturing problem, for which a solution in those terms is presented. Coming back to TBS, it should be mentioned that spatial interdependence via transportation costs is a central idea in the analysis; this idea is applied again in an optimal control set-up with potentialised partial differential equations (PPDEs), for which a - once more potentialised - framework and an explicit solution are proposed.

JEL Classification: C6