【摘要】Agglomeration and income inequality at country level can be both understood as concentration of physical and human capital in the process of economic development. As such; it seems pertinent to analyse their impact on economic growth considering both phenomena together. By estimating a dynamic panel specification at country level; this paper analyses how agglomeration and inequality (both their levels and their evolution) influence long-run economic growth. In line with previous findings; our results suggest that while high-inequality levels are a limiting factor for long-run growth; agglomeration processes can be associated with economic growth; at least in countries at early stages of development. Moreover; we find that the growth-enhancing benefits from agglomeration processes depend not only on the country's level of development; but also on its initial income distribution (something; to the best of our knowledge; not considered before). In fact; probably suggesting a social dimension to congestion diseconomies; increasing agglomeration is associated with lower growth when income distribution is particularly unequal.

【文献来源】Castells-Quintana D;Royuela V.Annals of regional Science.2014（2）