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Evolution of the Size and Industrial Structure of Cities in Japan between 1980 and 2010: Constant Churning and Persistent Regularity

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  • Tomoya Mori

    (Institute of Economic Research, Kyoto University; and Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry)

Abstract

This paper investigates the evolution of the Japanese economy between 1980 and 2010 with regard to the population and industrial structure of cities. With the rural-to-urban transformation settling by the 1970s, Japan experienced the second stage of urbanization through the integration of nearby cities. This led, on average, to a disproportionately high population growth rate of 24% for a set of core cities during the review period. At the same time, cities experienced substantial changes to their industrial composition: on average, 35% of the manufacturing industries (at the 3-digit level) present in a city in 1980 had left by 2010, while 30% of manufacturing industries located in a city in 2010 had not been present in the same city in 1980. Remarkably, this substantial relocation of populations and industries among cities took place while a simple yet rigid relationship between the size and industrial composition of cities was preserved, characterized by the roughly constant elasticity between the number and average size of cities in which an industry was present. This paper discusses the policy implications of this persistent regularity and the possible underlying mechanisms.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomoya Mori, 2017. "Evolution of the Size and Industrial Structure of Cities in Japan between 1980 and 2010: Constant Churning and Persistent Regularity," Asian Development Review, MIT Press, vol. 34(2), pages 86-113, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:adbadr:v:34:y:2017:i:2:p:86-113
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fang Wang & Ming-Hua Tian & Zhong-Hua Yin, 2021. "Modern urbanization and industrial upgrading in China: evidence from panel data," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 661-681, April.
    2. MORI Tomoya, 2021. "Regularity in Urban Agglomeration Patterns and Its Macroscopic Implications for Regional Policies (Japanese)," Policy Discussion Papers (Japanese) 21012, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    agglomeration; central place theory; city systems; power laws; transport costs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • 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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