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Geography Dictates, But How? Topography, Spatial Concentration and Sectoral Diversification

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  • Chowdhury, Mohammad Tarequl Hasan
  • Rahman, Muhammad Habibur
  • Ulubasoglu, Mehmet Ali

Abstract

This study investigates the ways in which terrain ruggedness affects sectoral diversification. A cross-country analysis using data from 142 countries over the period 1970‒2007 documents an inverted U-shaped link between terrain ruggedness and sectoral diversification, which mainly works through the extensive margin of diversification. A within-country analysis based on United States (US) state-level data over the period 1997‒2011 confirms this non-monotonic relationship. The within-country analysis further reveals that an important mechanism through which terrain ruggedness affects sectoral diversification is the spatial concentration of economic activity, as measured by the concentration of satellite-based night lights.

Suggested Citation

  • Chowdhury, Mohammad Tarequl Hasan & Rahman, Muhammad Habibur & Ulubasoglu, Mehmet Ali, 2018. "Geography Dictates, But How? Topography, Spatial Concentration and Sectoral Diversification," MPRA Paper 87245, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:87245
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    Cited by:

    1. Ligia Alba Melo-Becerra & María Teresa Ramírez-Giraldo, 2023. "Transport infrastructure and technical efficiency in a panel of countries: accounting for endogeneity in a stochastic frontier model," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 1-18, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    sectoral diversification; spatial concentration; extensive margin; intensive margin; terrain ruggedness.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • 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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