Agglomeration and welfare: the core-periphery model in the light of Bentham, Kaldor, and Rawls

Sylvie Charlot, (), Carl GAIGNƒ, Frédéric Robert-Nicoud and Jacques Thisse ()
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Carl Gaigne

No 2003039, CORE Discussion Papers from Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE)

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to apply different welfare approaches to the canonical model developed by Krugman, with the aim of comparing the only two possible market outcomes, i.e. agglomeration and dispersion. More precisely, we use the Pareto criterion, the compensation criteria put forward by Kaldor, as well as the utilitarian and Rawlsian welfare functions. No clear answer emerges for the following two reasons: (i) except for small range of transport cost values, there is indetermination when compensation schemes are used and (ii) the best outcome heavily depends on societal values regarding inequalities across individuals. In particular, our analysis cautions against the use of utilitarian welfare functions as a foundation for regional policy recommendations.

Keywords: agglomeration; welfare; economic geography; compensation mechanism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F12 R13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003-02-01
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Related works:
Working Paper: Agglomeration and Welfare: The Core-Periphery Model in the Light of Bentham, Kaldor and Rawls (2004)
Journal Article: Agglomeration and welfare: The core-periphery model in the light of Bentham, Kaldor, and Rawls (2006)
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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cor:louvco:2003039

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