Timeliness, Trade and Agglomeration

Anthony Venables and James Harrigan

No 4294, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: An important element of the cost of distance is time taken in delivering final and intermediate goods. We argue that time costs are qualitatively different from direct monetary costs such as freight charges. The difference arises because of uncertainty. Unsynchronized deliveries can disrupt production, and delivery time can force producers to order components before demand and cost uncertainties are resolved. Using several related models we show that this can cause clustering of component production. If final assembly takes place in two locations and component production has increasing returns to scale, then component production will tend to cluster around just one of the assembly plants.

Keywords: Just-in-time; Clustering; Location; Trade (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F10 L00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004-03
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Timeliness, Trade and Agglomeration (2004)
Working Paper: Timeliness, trade and agglomeration (2004)
Working Paper: Timeliness, Trade and Agglomeration (2004)
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