Optimal Spatial Policies, Geography and Sorting

Pablo Fajgelbaum () and Cecile Gaubert

No 24632, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We study optimal spatial policies in a quantitative trade and geography framework with spillovers and spatial sorting of heterogeneous workers. We characterize the spatial transfers that must hold in efficient allocations, as well as labor subsidies that can implement them. There exists scope for welfare-enhancing spatial policies even when spillovers are common across locations. Using data on U.S. cities and existing estimates of the spillover elasticities, we find that the U.S. economy would benefit from a reallocation of workers to currently low-wage cities. The optimal allocation features a greater share of high skill workers in smaller cities relative to the observed allocation. Inefficient sorting may lead to substantial welfare costs.

JEL-codes: F12 H21 H71 R13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-geo, nep-lma and nep-ure
Note: ITI
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

Published as Pablo D Fajgelbaum & Cecile Gaubert, 2020. "Optimal Spatial Policies, Geography, and Sorting*," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol 135(2), pages 959-1036.

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Working Paper: Optimal Spatial Policies, Geography and Sorting (2018)
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