Heterogeneous Space in Regional Economics and Beyond

Abstract

This paper points to the multiple forces which establish differential prices and outputs over heterogeneous space. Such space clearly applies to a regional economy where costly distance provides opportunities for sellers to discriminate in price among customers. Similar discriminatory opportunities may be created in a spaceless world through, for example, product differentiation and the passage of time. It is in this broad perspective that a generalized theory of discriminatory spatial pricing is formulated. Simulations reveal a remarkable panoply of cost, price, and output relationships, highlighting the criticality of variations in elasticity in determining macro, micro, and regional economic behaviour. Copyright 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd