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Does the Henry George Theorem Provide a Practical Guide to Optimal City Size?

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  • Richard Arnott
Abstract
. The spatial distribution of economic activity is determined by a balancing of increasing and decreasing returns to scale activities. The Henry George Theorem states roughly that, if economic activity is efficiently organized over a “large” space, aggregate land rents equal the aggregate losses from the decreasing returns to scale activities. Kanemoto, Ohkawara, and Suzuki have tentatively applied the Henry George Theorem to investigate whether Tokyo has too large a population. This paper has two aims. The first is to explore the Theorem and its generality; the second is to examine whether it provides a promising conceptual foundation for estimating whether particular cities are over‐ or underpopulated.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Arnott, 2004. "Does the Henry George Theorem Provide a Practical Guide to Optimal City Size?," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 63(5), pages 1057-1090, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ajecsc:v:63:y:2004:i:5:p:1057-1090
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1536-7150.2004.00334.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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