Path-dependence and Spatial Inequalities - Implications of Major Shocks on Urban Growth Patterns in East Germany
(2018) EKHS11 20181Department of Economic History
- Abstract
- The economic potential of East Germany still severely lags behind that of the West. A scarcity of urban agglomerations is associated with this disparity. The origins of this disparity are insufficiently explored with regards to the spatial inequalities of urban growth induced by the two major shocks of central planning and reunification. By creating long-term time series for city growth and population density, this study analyses the implications of these two major shocks on the development of urban growth in East Germany. Guided by a framework of agglomeration economies and economic geography, the research further determines why historical patterns of the German Democratic Republic either persisted or not. The results indicate negative... (More)
- The economic potential of East Germany still severely lags behind that of the West. A scarcity of urban agglomerations is associated with this disparity. The origins of this disparity are insufficiently explored with regards to the spatial inequalities of urban growth induced by the two major shocks of central planning and reunification. By creating long-term time series for city growth and population density, this study analyses the implications of these two major shocks on the development of urban growth in East Germany. Guided by a framework of agglomeration economies and economic geography, the research further determines why historical patterns of the German Democratic Republic either persisted or not. The results indicate negative implications for formerly historical growth centers due to a shift in economic productivity to the Northeast. After reunification, this weakening of preexisting structures manifests itself in very few remaining large cities, stifling agglomeration economic potential in present day. The decline of former growth regions of the German Democratic Republic is in part attributed to its eastward bias. The German Democratic Republic’s focus on medium- and big-sized cities, which cannot generate sufficient returns to scale, is shown to constitute a disadvantage upon reunification. The findings showcase a difficulty of governmental efforts to mitigate an increase of the gap between large cities and the rest of East Germany. This implies a choice between fostering the present growth centers or a continuity of fruitless regional equalisation attempts. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8951270
- author
- Leister, Tim LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- EKHS11 20181
- year
- 2018
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- spatial inequalities, urban growth, agglomeration economies, new economic geography, locational fundamentals, East Germany
- language
- English
- id
- 8951270
- date added to LUP
- 2018-06-21 13:33:09
- date last changed
- 2018-06-21 13:33:09
@misc{8951270,
abstract = {{The economic potential of East Germany still severely lags behind that of the West. A scarcity of urban agglomerations is associated with this disparity. The origins of this disparity are insufficiently explored with regards to the spatial inequalities of urban growth induced by the two major shocks of central planning and reunification. By creating long-term time series for city growth and population density, this study analyses the implications of these two major shocks on the development of urban growth in East Germany. Guided by a framework of agglomeration economies and economic geography, the research further determines why historical patterns of the German Democratic Republic either persisted or not. The results indicate negative implications for formerly historical growth centers due to a shift in economic productivity to the Northeast. After reunification, this weakening of preexisting structures manifests itself in very few remaining large cities, stifling agglomeration economic potential in present day. The decline of former growth regions of the German Democratic Republic is in part attributed to its eastward bias. The German Democratic Republic’s focus on medium- and big-sized cities, which cannot generate sufficient returns to scale, is shown to constitute a disadvantage upon reunification. The findings showcase a difficulty of governmental efforts to mitigate an increase of the gap between large cities and the rest of East Germany. This implies a choice between fostering the present growth centers or a continuity of fruitless regional equalisation attempts.}},
author = {{Leister, Tim}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Path-dependence and Spatial Inequalities - Implications of Major Shocks on Urban Growth Patterns in East Germany}},
year = {{2018}},
}