Urban Agglomeration and Economic Growth (Publications of the Egon-Sohmen-Foundation)

Urban Agglomeration and Economic Growth is the fifth volume in the series of books emanating from the activities of the Egon-Sohmen-Foundation. It contains 10 papers (plus a supplementary note) which were presented at an international conference in Zurich, Switzerland, in summer 1993. These papers cover historical and theoretical aspects as well as policy implications. The volume contains contributions by M. Beckmann, H.-J. Ewers, R.H. Funck, M. van Geenhuizen and P. Nijkamp, G. Giuliano and K.A. Small, P. Hall, H. Klodt, J. Mokyr, H.W. Richardson and J.G. Williamson. On June 1, 1990, Egon Sohmen would have reached the age of 60 had he not suffered from a fatal illness. It demanded his death at the early age of 46. If he were still with us, he would playa prominent role in the current debate on monetary arrangements and on allocation theory, perhaps in­ cluding environmental issues and urban economics. His contributions are well remembered by his colleagues and friends, by his former students, and by many in the economics profession on both sides of the Atlantic. In extrapolating his great achievements as a scholar and teacher beyond the time of his death, one is inclined to suppose that Egon Sohmen's name would figure high on many a list of candidates for honors and awards in the field of international economics. For the reconstruction of economics in the German language area Egon Sohmen was invaluable. Born in Linz (Austria), he studied in Vienna at the Business School (Hochschule fUr Welthandel, now Wirtscha!tsuniversitiit), then went to the US as a Fulbright scholar (1953), returned to Europe to take his doctorate in Tiibingen, Germany, (1954) and crossed the Atlantic again to teach at MIT (1955-58) where he obtained a Ph. D. (1958) under Charlie Kindleberger. He might have stayed permanently in the US, con­ tinuing a career that he started as Assistant Professor at Yale University (1958-61), if the US visa provisions had been applied in a more liberal fashion. Environmental theory and policy are becoming central issues in economics as in other fields of science. This volume focuses on selected aspects of environmental economics. The four papers of the first part deal with more general aspects. They discuss the environmental limits to growth (Wilfred Beckerman), ecological concerns in a market economy (Johannes Heister and Friedrich Schneider), philosophical aspects of intergenerational justice (Joanna Pasek) and evolutionary economics as an approach to environmental problems (Georg Erdman). The three papers of the second part deal with policy instruments. They discuss the designing of markets for CO2 emissions and other pollutants (Johannes Heister and Peter Michaelis), pollution charges as a source of public revenues (Wallace E. Oates) and the role of economic incentives for resourcemanagement in developing countries (Edward B. Barbier). The two papers of the third part deal with trade issues. They discuss the impactof domestic environmental policy on international trade (James A. Tobey) andthe economics of trade in endangered species (Joanne C. Burgess). The two papers of the final part deal with the global dimension. They discuss tropical deforestation (Torsten Amelung) and the question how much we should invest in preserving our current climate (William D. Nordhaus). The contributors include internationally renowned scholars This is the flfth volume in the series of books emanating from the activities of the Egon-Sohmen-Foundation. The Foundation was established by Helmut Sohmen of Hong Kong in memory of his late brother, Egon Sohmen (1930-1977), who was an interna tional economist, highly respected on both sides of the Atlantic. The conference topics in previous years were ''Towards a Mar ket Economy in Central and Eastern Europe," "Money, Trade, and Competition," "Economic Progress and Environmental Con cerns," and "Economic Aspects of International Migration." These are also the titles of the respective conference volumes (edited by Herbert Giersch and published by Springer). The topic of the 1993 conference evolved from a suggestion made by Regine Sohmen, Egon's widow, who reported about her husband's increasing interest in urban economics during the 19708, when he was teaching at the University of Heidelberg and became concerned with the romantic town's congestion problem. The idea struck me as important also from the angle of trade and economic growth that had attracted Egon Sohmen's interest in the 1960s, notably when we were both lecturing at the University ofthe Saar. This angle can be briefly described as follows The Environmental Limits To Growth: A Fresh Look / Wilfred Beckerman -- Ecological Concerns In A Market Economy: On Ethics, Accounting And Sustainability / Johannes Heister And Friedrich Schneider -- Philosophical Aspects Of Intergenerational Justice / Joanna Pasek -- Evolutionary Economics As An Approach To Environmental Problems / Georg Erdmann -- Designing Markets For Co[subscript 2] Emissions And Other Pollutants / Johannes Heister And Peter Michaelis -- Pollution Charges As A Source Of Public Revenues / Wallace E. Oates -- The Role Of Economic Incentives For Natural Resource Management In Developing Countries / Edward B. Barbier -- The Impact Of Domestic Environmental Policy On International Trade / James A. Tobey -- Economics Of The Trade In Endangered Species: Implications For Sustainable Management / Joanne C. Burgess -- Tropical Deforestation As An International Economic Problem / Torsten Amelung -- How Much Should We Invest In Preserving Our Current Climate? / William D. Nordhaus. Herbert Giersch, Ed. For The Egon-sohmen-foundation. Based On A Conference Held In Linz, Austria, In 1991. Includes Bibliographical References. In 1990, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe began or accelerated their transition to a market economy. This book addresses among others the following questions: (I) What are the fundamental causes of the collapse of the Soviet-type economic systems? (II) What major steps could be taken to make the transition process to a market economy irreversible and less painful? (III) What can be learned from West Germany's outstandingly successful postwar economic reforms? (IV) Is the issue of gradualism versus shock therapy still relevant? (V) If macroeconomic stability is a precondition, what is the role of privatization, deregulation and trade liberalization? (VI) What is the optimal sequence of steps in privatization, deregulation, liberalization and currency convertibility? (VII) How quickly may privatization be achieved? (VIII) Is the USSR really a special case and, if so, in what respects and for what fundamental reasons? (IX) How long in the transition period may the initial phase of disorder, chaos and decline last? (X) What can be learned from the experiences gathered so far in the major ex-communist countries? Front Matter....Pages i-viii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Urbanization, Technological Progress, and Economic History....Pages 3-37 Urbanization, Industrial Dynamics, and Spatial Development: A Company Life History Approach....Pages 39-78 Migration and City Growth during Industrial Revolutions....Pages 79-104 Front Matter....Pages 105-105 Economic Growth in a Central Place System....Pages 107-115 Supplementary Note on “Economic Growth in a Central Place System”....Pages 117-122 Economies and Diseconomies of Agglomeration....Pages 123-155 Structural Change in Urban Growth....Pages 157-182 The Locational Impact of Declining Costs of Transportation and Communication....Pages 183-195 Front Matter....Pages 197-197 Alternative Strategies for Coping with Traffic Congestion....Pages 199-225 Competition among Locations: Objectives, Instruments, Strategies, Perspectives....Pages 227-255 The Future of Planning....Pages 257-272 Back Matter....Pages 273-277 Presents ten papers on the economic implications of international migration. Includes papers on the history of overseas migration from Europe to the USA from the mid 19th century to 1924 and economic theories of labour migration. Examines experiences of immigration in the USA in relation to the labour market, entrepreneurship and transmission of immigrant skills. Discusses lessons for European immigration policies with reference to social security and the ageing European population Deals with the transition in the East, the causes of the collapse of the old system, the lessons to be drawn from West Germany's 1948 reforms and the respective roles and the appropriate timing and sequencing of privatization, macroeconomic stabilization, deregulation and external liberalization. Focusing on selected aspects of environmental economics, this volume contains contributions on four major aspects of the subject: environmental limitations to growth; ecological concerns in a market economy; philosophical aspects of intergenerational justice; and evolutionary economics. Exploring the economic consequences of international migration, this volume contains a number of essays on such subjects as the economic performance of immigrants in labour markets and future migration policies. Many of the contributors focus on the US labour market. Herbert Giersch, Ed., For The Egon-sohmen-foundation. Contains The Papers Discussed At A Symposium ... Held In Vancouver, Canada--pref. Includes Bibliographical References.