Social issues in spatial economics

Provides a focus on the significance of the spatial dimension in economics and the principal questions and issues which accompany considerations of the spatial dimension. Indicates that regional/spatial disparities in economic growth and performance, in income per capita, in the access of citizens to government and private services, in standards of living, and indeed in most economic and social indicators, would be expected as a natural result of human activity. Poses questions regarding the acceptability of the market outcome in terms of the spatial distribution of economic activity and population, the criteria for intervention in this outcome, and raises a number of issues in the trade‐off between spatial efficiency and equity considerations. Provides a brief discussion of regional/spatial policy implications.