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Trade and institutions: explaining urban giants

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  • Candau, Fabien
  • Gbandi, Tchapo

Abstract

By analyzing the population growth at the top of the urban hierarchy, we test two hypotheses explaining the rise of mega-cities: trade and political institutions. We find that democratic institutions are the main factor behind the concentration of a nation's urban population in the main city. Contrary to the literature, we find that extractive institutions reduce the size of the biggest city.

Suggested Citation

  • Candau, Fabien & Gbandi, Tchapo, 2019. "Trade and institutions: explaining urban giants," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(6), pages 1017-1035, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jinsec:v:15:y:2019:i:6:p:1017-1035_6
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    1. Cem Karayalcin & Hakan Yilmazkuday, 2015. "Trade and Cities," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 29(3), pages 523-549.
    2. Tereza Nìmeèková & Arshad Hayat, 2022. "Does trade openness improve the quality of domestic institutions? Evidence from Africa," Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 17(4), pages 881-908, December.
    3. Sałach, Katarzyna & Brzeziński, Michał, 2022. "Political connections and the super-rich in Poland," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 46(4).

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