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To be connected or not to be connected? The role of long-haul economies

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  • Koster, Hans
  • Thisse, Jacques-François
Abstract
We investigate what regions are the winners and losers from large transportation infrastructure improvements. We argue that long-haul economies - implying that the marginal transportation cost decreases with distance - play a pivotal role in understanding the location choices of firms. Using data from Japan and the Netherlands, we first establish that long-haul economies are an important feature of modern transportation networks. Then, we develop a simple model to show that improvements in transportation infrastructure have non-trivial impacts on the location choices of firms. While these investments are often beneficial to large regions, they may be detrimental to small intermediate regions, implying job losses. Using data on Japan's Shinkansen, we confirm that 'in-between' municipalities that are connected to the HSR witness a sizable decrease in employment.

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  • Koster, Hans & Thisse, Jacques-François, 2021. "To be connected or not to be connected? The role of long-haul economies," CEPR Discussion Papers 15905, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:15905
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    Cited by:

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    2. Gabriel Loumeau & Antonio Russo, 2022. "Second-Hand Gentrification: Theory and Evidence from High-Speed Rail Extensions," CESifo Working Paper Series 9992, CESifo.
    3. Yongling Li & Junxian Yang & Weiqiang Zhang & Zhou Zhou & Jianhui Cong, 2022. "Does High-Speed Railway Promote High-Quality Development of Enterprises? Evidence from China’s Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-33, September.
    4. Lisha Wang & Jian Wang & Xuepeng Qian, 2023. "Does the bullet train exacerbate urban shrinkage? Lessons from Japan," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 102(1), pages 187-212, February.
    5. Yoo, Sunbin & Kumagai, Junya & Kawasaki, Kohei & Hong, Sungwan & Zhang, Bingqi & Shimamura, Takuya & Managi, Shunsuke, 2023. "Double-edged trains," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 120-133.
    6. Sanchis-Guarner, Rosa & Szumilo, Nikodem & Vernet, Antoine, 2024. "Startup stations: the impact of rail access on entrepreneurship (self-employment) in England and Wales," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 124680, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Liang Xu & Zhigao Liu, 2022. "The Evolution of the Spatial Patterns of Startup Firms in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China in the 21st Century," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-18, August.
    8. Riukula, Krista & Väänänen, Touko, 2024. "Estimating the Labour Market Impacts of Transport Projects in Finland," ETLA Working Papers 120, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    9. Bottasso, Anna & Conti, Maurizio & Ferrara, Antonella Rita & Robbiano, Simone, 2023. "High-Speed Railways and Firms Total Factor Productivity: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment," IZA Discussion Papers 16572, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Han Zhang & Dongli Wu, 2022. "The Impact of Transport Infrastructure on Rural Industrial Integration: Spatial Spillover Effects and Spatio-Temporal Heterogeneity," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-18, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Accessibility; Transport infrastructure; Long-haul economies; Regional development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • R30 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - General
    • R42 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government and Private Investment Analysis; Road Maintenance; Transportation Planning

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