Article ID: | iaor1990184 |
Country: | Belgium |
Volume: | 29 |
Issue: | 2 |
Start Page Number: | 23 |
End Page Number: | 40 |
Publication Date: | Jun 1989 |
Journal: | Belgian Journal of Operations Research, Statistics and Computer Science |
Authors: | Nijkamp Peter |
Keywords: | urban dynamics |
Long-term (structural) changes in urban systems are analyzed from the view-point of the dynamics of the production systems concerned. On the basis of some simple assumptions a discrete dynamic model is derived, which has a structure similar to the well known May type of models in population dynamics. This model appears to be able to generate a diversity of evolutionary paths ranging from stable to chaotic patterns. Next, this basic model is extended by means of endogenous R&D investments and mutual exclusion phenomena between different competitive urban production systems. It is essentially demonstrated that regular urban life cycles are not necessarily a plausible phenomenon in urban dynamics, but that irregular fluctuations may equally well occur, depending on the initial conditions, the production structure, and the various feedbacks incorporated in the model.