ANALYSIS OF THEORETICAL,METHODOLOGICAL AND EMPIRICAL RESEARCH IN THE JOURNAL OF REGIONAL SCIENCE*

ABSTRACT. This paper examines the impacts of JRS articles in the areas of theory, methods and empirical analysis, as represented by subsequent citations reported in the Social Sciences Citation Index. A model relating the mix of theoretical, methodological and empirical research published in the JRS to subsequent citations is estimated. The time distribution of theoretical and empirical citations also indicates that the knowledge diffusion process in these two areas may be segmented.     

THE CHALLENGE OF ‘TECHNOLOGICAL CHOICES’FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE APPROACHES IN ARCHAEOLOGY*

Recently several anthropological and sociological studies have interpreted technologies as cultural choices that are determined as much by local perceptions and the social context fly any material constraints or purely functional criteria. Using the example of ceramic technology we consider how materials science studies can contribute to and benefit from this understanding of technology as a social construct. Although we acknowledge some potential difficulties, it is our contention that both materials scientists and archaeologists have gained much and have much to gain by cooperating together to study ancient technologies, and that the concept of ‘technological choices’can facilitate a wider consideration of the factors shaping technological developments.     

ONCE AGAIN: TESTING FOR REGIONAL HOMOGENEITY*

ABSTRACT. Summarizing the foregoing discussions in this journal on testing for regional homogeneity the present note shows that in the model of Zellner's seemingly unrelated regressions one test statistic may be used not only to test for overall homogeneity but also to examine for individual coefficient homogeneity. This aim is achieved by varying the linear restrictions in the test statistic according to different problems. To illustrate these tests regional consumption functions for the 11 Bundesläder (States) of the Federal Republic of Germany are used.     

A REGIONAL CONSUMER DEMAND MODEL FOR NEW ZEALAND*

ABSTRACT. This paper discusses the formulation and estimation of sets of demand systems for six New Zealand regions. The chosen model is based on the Linear Expenditure System, constrained in various ways to take account of interregional differences in consumer behaviour. Our results suggest that income and price elasticities of demand vary significantly between regions, suggesting that regional employment and output patterns are likely to differ in their responses to changes in aggregate demand.     

AGGLOMERATION VERSUS PRODUCT VARIETY: IMPLICATIONS FOR REGIONAL INEQUALITIES*

ABSTRACT We investigate how cross‐country differences in firms' fixed set‐up costs affect the trade‐off between global efficiency and spatial equity. Our analysis reveals that the standard assumption of symmetry in set‐up costs masks the existence of an interesting effect: the range of available varieties depends on the spatial distribution of firms. In such a setting, where the market outcome leads to excessive agglomeration in the symmetric case, a planner may opt for asymmetric set‐up costs and even more agglomeration. We show that the planner will always favor lower set‐up costs in the large country with more agglomeration when the consumer's marginal preference for variety is high, or with less agglomeration when the consumer's marginal preference for variety is low.