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Measurement of Optimal City Sizes in Japan: A Surplus Function Approach

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  • Xiao-Ping Zheng

    (Faculty of Economics, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-Higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan, zheng@ec.ritsumei.ac.jp)

Abstract

This paper measures optimal city sizes for Japanese metropolitan areas, using a surplus function approach. The surplus function is defined as the difference between the total disposable income and the total expenditure of the households working and living in the metropolitan areas and the optimal city size refers to such a population of metropolitan areas that maximises the surplus function. The estimated results show that the optimal city size of Japanese metropolitan areas in the year 2000 was a population of about 18 million, which means that the Tokyo metropolitan area, with nearly 32 million inhabitants, is obviously too large.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiao-Ping Zheng, 2007. "Measurement of Optimal City Sizes in Japan: A Surplus Function Approach," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 44(5-6), pages 939-951, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:44:y:2007:i:5-6:p:939-951
    DOI: 10.1080/00420980701318961
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yunzhu He, 2022. "The Optimal Urban Scale from Different Perspectives and under Different Development Goals Based on the CES Utility Function," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Fumitoshi Mizutani & Noriyoshi Nakayama & Tomoyasu Tanaka, 2015. "An Analysis of the Effects of the Compact City on Economic Activities in Japan," ERSA conference papers ersa15p160, European Regional Science Association.
    3. Fumitoshi Mizutani & Tomoyasu Tanaka & Noriyoshi Nakayama, 2015. "Estimation of optimal metropolitan size in Japan with consideration of social costs," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 48(4), pages 1713-1730, June.
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    5. Euijune Kim & Geoffrey Hewings & Kyung-Min Nam, 2014. "Optimal Urban Population Size: National vs Local Economic Efficiency," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 51(2), pages 428-445, February.
    6. Kyung-Min Nam & John M. Reilly, 2013. "City Size Distribution as a Function of Socioeconomic Conditions: An Eclectic Approach to Downscaling Global Population," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 50(1), pages 208-225, January.
    7. Xu, Hengzhou & Jiao, Man, 2021. "City size, industrial structure and urbanization quality—A case study of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    8. Francesca Bartolacci & Rosanna Salvia & Giovanni Quaranta & Luca Salvati, 2022. "Seeking the Optimal Dimension of Local Administrative Units: A Reflection on Urban Concentration and Changes in Municipal Size," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-17, November.
    9. Wenbiao Zhang & Degang Yang & Jinwei Huo, 2016. "Studies of the Relationship between City Size and Urban Benefits in China Based on a Panel Data Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-18, June.

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