Agglomeration and welfare of the Krugman model in a continuous space

Abstract

Two spatial equilibria, agglomeration and dispersion, in a continuous space core-periphery model are examined to discuss which equilibrium is socially preferred. It is shown that when transport cost is lower than a critical value, the agglomeration equilibrium is preferable in the sense of Scitovszky, while when the transport cost is above the critical value, the two equilibria can not be ordered in the sense of Scitovszky.Comment: 16 page