A Research Programme on Urban
Dynamics
Roberto Camagni, Roberta Capello and Andrea Caragliu
Abstract Over the last three decades, the research group on regional and urban
economics at the Politecnico di Milano has carried out studies on theoretical and
empirical issues concerning the structure, competitiveness and growth of cities. A
broad critical synthesis of this line of research is presented in Camagni et al. (Urban
Empire, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, 2019). In what follows, we focus on two crucial
issues that the group has tackled, i.e. optimal city size theory and the empirics of
central place theory. Although other issues, like self-organization dynamic models
and the concept of city networks, have been elaborated by the group, they are not
discussed in this paper.
Keywords Optimal city size · Urban hierarchy · Central place theory
1 Introduction
Over the last three decades, the research group on regional and urban economics
at the Politecnico di Milano has carried out studies on theoretical and empirical
issues concerning the structure, competitiveness and growth of cities. A broad critical
synthesis of this line of research is presented in Camagni et al. (2019). In what follows,
we focus on two crucial issues that the group has tackled, i.e. optimal city size theory
and the empirics of central place theory. Although other issues, like self-organization
dynamic models and the concept of city networks, have been elaborated by the group,
they are not discussed in this paper.
The logical fil rouge connecting different contributions—sometimes explicit,
sometimes only implicit and even hidden—became evident by developing this paper,
which also allowed us to verify the logical consistency of the overall research programme progressed by the groups on these issues.
R. Camagni (B) · R. Capello · A. Caragliu
Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering—ABC Department, Politecnico di
Milano, Milan, Italy
e-mail: roberto.camagni@polimi.it
© The Author(s) 2020
S. Della Torre et al. (eds.), Regeneration of the Built Environment
from a Circular Economy Perspective, Research for Development,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33256-3_1
3
Dynamics
Roberto Camagni, Roberta Capello and Andrea Caragliu
Abstract Over the last three decades, the research group on regional and urban
economics at the Politecnico di Milano has carried out studies on theoretical and
empirical issues concerning the structure, competitiveness and growth of cities. A
broad critical synthesis of this line of research is presented in Camagni et al. (Urban
Empire, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, 2019). In what follows, we focus on two crucial
issues that the group has tackled, i.e. optimal city size theory and the empirics of
central place theory. Although other issues, like self-organization dynamic models
and the concept of city networks, have been elaborated by the group, they are not
discussed in this paper.
Keywords Optimal city size · Urban hierarchy · Central place theory
1 Introduction
Over the last three decades, the research group on regional and urban economics
at the Politecnico di Milano has carried out studies on theoretical and empirical
issues concerning the structure, competitiveness and growth of cities. A broad critical
synthesis of this line of research is presented in Camagni et al. (2019). In what follows,
we focus on two crucial issues that the group has tackled, i.e. optimal city size theory
and the empirics of central place theory. Although other issues, like self-organization
dynamic models and the concept of city networks, have been elaborated by the group,
they are not discussed in this paper.
The logical fil rouge connecting different contributions—sometimes explicit,
sometimes only implicit and even hidden—became evident by developing this paper,
which also allowed us to verify the logical consistency of the overall research programme progressed by the groups on these issues.
R. Camagni (B) · R. Capello · A. Caragliu
Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering—ABC Department, Politecnico di
Milano, Milan, Italy
e-mail: roberto.camagni@polimi.it
© The Author(s) 2020
S. Della Torre et al. (eds.), Regeneration of the Built Environment
from a Circular Economy Perspective, Research for Development,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33256-3_1
3