Abstract

China has used two main spatial policies to shape its geographic patterns of development: restricted labor mobility through the Hukou residential registration system and massive infrastructure investment, notably a 96,000 kilometer national expressway network. This paper develops a structural new economic geography model to examine the impacts of these policies. Fitting the model to available data allows simulating counterfactual scenarios comparing each policy’s respective impact on regional economic development and urbanization patterns across China. The results suggest large overall economic benefits from constructing the national expressway network and abolishing the Hukou system. Yet, the spatial impacts of the two policies are very different. The construction of the national expressway network reinforced existing urbanization patterns. The initially lagging regions not connected to the network have not benefitted much from its construction. By contrast, removal of the Hukou restrictions, which Chinese policy makers are considering, would result in much more widespread welfare gains, allowing everyone to gain by moving to where he or she is most productive. Removal of the Hukou restrictions would also promote urbanization in currently lagging (inland) regions, mostly by stimulating rural to urban migration. Document type: Preprint

Abstract

Regional integration in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is crucial for its further economic development and, more importantly, its structural transformation away from agriculture towards higher value-added activities, such as manufacturing and services. Yet there are many paths towards greater integration, some of which are easier than others. In order to gain insights into how regional integration is occurring in SSA, determine impediments to it, and develop recommendations for how the World Bank and other development agencies can help further facilitate it, the World Bank commissioned a set of political economy of regional integration studies covering sector analyses of agriculture, financial services, professional services, trade facilitation, and transport. This report summarizes the findings from the sector studies and suggests recommendations for further efforts in these areas by the World Bank and other development agencies. In a comparative context, the findings of the studies suggest cautious optimism for regional integration efforts in sub-Saharan Africa. Economic integration is more likely to succeed when it occurs alongside regional attempts at improving political stability and or developing joint infrastructure.

Abstract

In the past few years traffic volume is increasing. As a consequence, negative external traffic effects are increasing too, in particular CO2 emissions, which result in global warming and climate changes. CO2 emissions, a by-product of vehicles are much higher in cities due to traffic density. According to European standards, Celje is not a large city however its traffic poses a great problem that the city authorities will soon be confronted with. This paper focuses on the city centre of Celje, where traffic flow was measured and CO2 emissions calculated. Using alternative solutions the aim was to present impacts on the environment in the municipality of Celje in an event of changed traffic regimes. In order to reach the guidelines of sustainable transport development in the municipality of Celje, in the future, different measures for reducing negative external effects of city transport will have to be put into force, for only this way the quality of city life can be improved and compatibility of environmental, economic and social objectives provided. В последние несколько лет объем перевозок увеличивается. Следствие этого является возрастание негативных внешних эффектов обусловленных трафиком, и в частности, выбросы CO2, которые приводят к глобальному потеплению и изменению климата. Выбросы CO2, как побочный продукт использования транспортных средств гораздо выше в городах вследствие интенсивности движения. В соответствии с европейскими стандартами, Целье не является большим городом, однако его транспорт создает большую проблему, с чем городские власти в скором времени будут сталкиваться. Данная статья посвящена городскому центру Целье, где транспортные потоки были измерены и рассчитаны выбросы CO2. Целью работы было использование альтернативных решений с тем, чтобы представить воздействие на окружающую среду в городе Целье в случае изменения режимов движения. С тем чтобы обеспечить устойчивое развитие транспорта в городе Целье в будущем, различные меры по снижению негативных внешних эффектов городского транспорта должны быть введены в действие, ибо только таким образом качество городской жизни может быть улучшено и обеспечена совместимость экологических, экономических и социальных целей. Document type: Article