The Geographic Concentration of Enterprise in Developing Countries

S-Tier
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Economics
Year: 2011
Volume: 126
Issue: 4
Pages: 2005-2061

Authors (2)

John S. Felkner (not in RePEc) Robert M. Townsend (University of Chicago)

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

A nation's economic geography can have an enormous impact on its development. In Thailand, we show that a high concentration of enterprise in an area predicts high subsequent growth in and around that area. We also find spatially contiguous convergence of enterprise with stagnant areas left behind. Exogenous physiographic conditions are correlated with enterprise location and growth. We fit a structural, micro-founded model of occupation transitions with fine-tuned geographic capabilities to village data and replicate these salient facts. Key elements of the model include costs, credit constraints on occupation choice, and spatially varying expansion of financial service providers. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:qjecon:v:126:y:2011:i:4:p:2005-2061
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29