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Geography, institutions and urban development: Italian cities, 1300–1861

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  • Marco Percoco

Abstract

Recent studies have highlighted the role of geography and institutions as key determinants of urban development. In this paper, we test this hypothesis by considering the case of Italian cities over a very long time period, i.e., from 1300 to 1861. Our measure of development is the urban population, and we relate it to geographical and institutional variables at both city and regional level. We find that the quality of institutions as measured by the experience of free city-state and the presence of a university has a positive effect on urban development, whereas we could not find a robust impact of the quality of regional government. However, we also find that cities located in mountain areas grew less than cities located in lowlands, possibly with access to the sea. We interpret these results as evidence of the importance of urban institutions and geography in shaping urban development. Copyright Springer-Verlag 2013

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  • Marco Percoco, 2013. "Geography, institutions and urban development: Italian cities, 1300–1861," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 50(1), pages 135-152, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:anresc:v:50:y:2013:i:1:p:135-152
    DOI: 10.1007/s00168-011-0482-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Antonio Accetturo & Sauro Mocetti, 2019. "Historical Origins and Developments of Italian Cities," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 5(2), pages 205-222, July.
    2. Torben Dall Schmidt & Peter Sandholt Jensen & Amber Naz, 2014. "New crops, local soils and urbanization: Clover, potatoes and the growth of Danish market towns,1672-1901," Working Papers 0065, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    3. Francesco Giffoni & Matteo Gomellini & Dario Pellegrino, 2019. "Human Capital And Urban Growth In Italy, 1981–2001," Review of Urban & Regional Development Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1-2), pages 77-101, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    O18; R12;

    JEL classification:

    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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