Dots to boxes: Do the size and shape of spatial units jeopardize economic geography estimations?

Anthony Briant (anthony.briant@m4x.org), Pierre-Philippe Combes and Miren Lafourcade
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Anthony Briant: PJSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement

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Abstract: This paper evaluates, in the context of economic geography estimates, the magnitude of the distortions arising from the choice of zoning system, which is also known as the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP). We consider three standard economic geography exercises (the analysis of spatial concentration, agglomeration economies, and trade determinants), using various French zoning systems differentiated according to the size and shape of spatial units, which are the two main determinants of the MAUP. While size matters a little, shape does so much less. Both dimensions seem to be of secondary importance compared to specification issues.

Keywords: MAUP; concentration; agglomeration; wage equations; gravity; externalités d'agglomération; équations de salaire; gravité (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008-12
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00586029v1
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Dots to boxes: Do the size and shape of spatial units jeopardize economic geography estimations? (2010)
Working Paper: Dots to boxes: Do the size and shape of spatial units jeopardize economic geography estimations? (2010)
Working Paper: Dots to boxes: Do the size and shape of spatial units jeopardize economic geography estimations? (2010)
Working Paper: Dots to boxes: Do the size and shape of spatial units jeopardize economic geography estimations? (2010)
Working Paper: Dots to boxes: Do the size and shape of spatial units jeopardize economic geography estimations? (2010)
Working Paper: Dots to Boxes: Do the Size and Shape of Spatial Units Jeopardize Economic Geography Estimations? (2008)
Working Paper: DOTS TO BOXES: DO THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF SPATIAL UNITS JEOPARDIZE ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY ESTIMATIONS? (2008)
Working Paper: DOTS TO BOXES: DO THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF SPATIAL UNITS JEOPARDIZE ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY ESTIMATIONS? (2008)
Working Paper: Dots to boxes: Do the size and shape of spatial units jeopardize economic geography estimations? (2008)
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