Department of Liberal Arts, Open University of Japan, Chiba, Japan
Research Article
Symmetry Breaking as "Master Switch" for Agglomeration Policy
Author(s): Akifumi Kuchiki* and Hideyoshi Sakai
An agglomeration is an organization composed of segments that can be classified into the four categories of
infrastructure, institutions, human resources and living conditions. The master switch for agglomeration policy is
the construction of segments that satisfy the ‘symmetry breaking’ conditions in a monopolistic framework within
new economic geography. We use symmetry breaking conditions derived from the synthesized general equilibrium
model of Krugman and Alonso using quasi-linear log utility. The activation of the master switch in the construction
of an urban agglomeration can break the symmetry equilibrium, leading to a cumulative process of agglomeration
segment construction. In the case of an urban agglomeration such as Sapporo, Japan, the segments constituting the
master switch are the development of the area surrounding Sapporo Station to lo.. View more»