Resetting the Urban Network: 117-2012

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Michaels, Guy; Rauch, Ferdinand
• 署名单位: University of London; London School Economics & Political Science; University of Oxford
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1111/ecoj.12424
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 378-412
• 关键词: impact; dependence; geography; cities; GROWTH; Europe; WAR

摘要

Do fixed geographic features such as coastlines and rivers determine town locations, or can historical events trap towns in unfavourable locations for centuries? We examine the effects on town locations of the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, which temporarily ended urbanisation in Britain, but not in France. As urbanisation recovered, medieval towns were more often found in Roman-era town locations in France than in Britain. The resetting of Britain's urban network gave it better access to natural navigable waterways, which mattered for town growth from 1200 to 1800. We conclude that history trapped many French towns in suboptimal locations.