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Geography, human capital and urbanization: A regional analysis

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  • Flückiger, Matthias
  • Ludwig, Markus

Abstract

Using subnationally representative data for 679 regions from 64 low- and middle-income countries, we document that geography, especially trade-related features, explains a substantial share of within-country variation in the level of human capital. We further show that a large part of the explanatory power can be attributed to the close interrelation between urbanization and concentration of human capital. These results bring together studies that identify human capital as an important determinant of regional development and the literature on economic geography that emphasizes geography’s role in shaping the spatial distribution of urbanization and economic activity.

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  • Flückiger, Matthias & Ludwig, Markus, 2018. "Geography, human capital and urbanization: A regional analysis," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 10-14.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:168:y:2018:i:c:p:10-14
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2018.03.027
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    Cited by:

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    2. Linxiong Chen & Changbiao Zhong & Chong Li, 2022. "Research on the Impact of the Digital Economy on China’s New-Type Urbanization: Based on Spatial and Mediation Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-23, November.
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    5. Yu Sang Chang & Moon Jung Kim & Su Min Kim & Sung Jun Jo, 2023. "The Offsetting Impact of Dependency and Urbanization on Mean Years of Schooling: A Scaling Analysis of 97 Countries," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, April.
    6. Roseline Tapuwa Karambakuwa & Ronney Ncwadi & Andrew Phiri, 2020. "The human capital–economic growth nexus in SSA countries: what can strengthen the relationship?," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 47(9), pages 1143-1159, July.
    7. Frederik Wild & David Stadelmann, 2022. "Coastal proximity and individual living standards: Econometric evidence from georeferenced household surveys in sub‐Saharan Africa," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(4), pages 1883-1901, November.
    8. Xuesong Sun & Chunwang Zhang & Qi Tan, 2023. "Factors Influencing the Coordinated Development of Urbanization and Its Spatial Effects: A Case Study of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, February.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Geography; Human capital; Urbanization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity

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