A Importância dos Rendimentos Crescentes à Escalano Processo de Aglomeração em Portugal: Uma Análise Empírica não Linear

Abstract

With this work we try to analyse the agglomeration process in the Portuguese regions, using the New Economic Geography models. In these models the base idea is that where has increasing returns to scale in the manufactured industry and low transport costs, there is agglomeration. For that, this study was structured in five parts. In the first part is made an abbreviation introduction, where are referred some theoretical contributions related with the areas of the agglomeration, that are usually associated to the New Economic Geography; in the second part are presented the theoretical foundations of the New Economic Geography models; in the third part are examined the considered statistical data, obtained in the data base Regio (2000) of the Eurostat statistics, for the period from 1987 to 1994, and in the Regional Accounts (2003) of INE, for the period from 1995 to 1999; in the fourth are exhibited the estimates effectuated; and in the fifth part are enunciated the main conclusions obtained with the realization of this work. Of referring, as summary conclusion, that with this work the existence of increasing returns to scale and low transport cost, in the Portuguese regions, was proven and as such the existence of agglomeration in Portugal.