6533b86dfe1ef96bd12c9c83

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Empirical tests of the multicentric urban models

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Since the seventies the effects of city size growth and diversification of economic activities on the multipolarisation of economic activities have questioned the theoretical and empirical appropriateness of the monocentric urban pattern to explain and describe the spatial organization of the modern metropolitan areas. New assumptions were based on multicentric and nonmonocentric urban economics models, which have become the core of new economic geography analysis during the nineties. At the same time, a lot of empirical studies have attempted to describe the urban economic patterns of North American metropolitan areas. Using this empirical literature, the aim of this paper is to propose a method of analyzing polycentric urban configurations. The first empirical step is to establish a consistent method of identifying the subcenters. The second step is the construction of appropriate functional forms linking the population (or employment) density gradient (or land values) and accessibilities associated with each subcenter. Before estimate the regressions, several econometric problems due to the use of spatial data have to be taken in consideration (third step). In the fourth step, the results of estimations enable the detection of the type of urban configuration. The last step is aimed at suggesting some further empirical researches : non-parametric approaches, spatial autocorrelation problem and new economic geography theories might be developed.