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An Investigation of Hierarchical Central Place Systems and Optimal Spatial Structures for Improving Regional Welfare

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New Frontiers of Policy Evaluation in Regional Science

Part of the book series: New Frontiers in Regional Science: Asian Perspectives ((NFRSASIPER,volume 52))

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Abstract

Central place theory, as used in market area analysis, explains how economic activity is spatially organised, and how the systematic organisation of such activity can optimise it. However, this work has devoted little attention to problematic issues in rural areas, which are nearly free of the diseconomies associated with urbanisation, such as pollution and congestion, but which often have difficulty accessing goods and services. This paper will demonstrate how an alternative spatial economic structure can be organised within the framework of central place theory and describe what sort of regional system is required to sustain the availability of goods and services in rural areas.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See the Division of Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations at sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Global Management, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan

    Daisuke Nakamura

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  1. Daisuke Nakamura
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Correspondence to Daisuke Nakamura .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Tsukuba, Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, Japan

    Yoshiro Higano

  2. Faculty of Agriculture, Niigata University, Niigata, Niigata, Japan

    Lily Kiminami

  3. Faculty of Policy Studies, Aichi Gakuin University, Nisshin, Aichi, Japan

    Kenichi Ishibashi

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Nakamura, D. (2022). An Investigation of Hierarchical Central Place Systems and Optimal Spatial Structures for Improving Regional Welfare. In: Higano, Y., Kiminami, L., Ishibashi, K. (eds) New Frontiers of Policy Evaluation in Regional Science. New Frontiers in Regional Science: Asian Perspectives, vol 52. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4501-3_6

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