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Spatial interaction models of the gravity type are widely used to model origindestination flows. They draw attention to three types of variables to explain variation in spatial interactions across geographic space: variables that characterise an origin region of a flow, variables that characterise a destination region of a flow, and finally variables that measure the separation between origin and destination regions. This paper outlines and compares two approaches, the spatial econometric and the eigenfunction-based spatial filtering approach, to deal with the issue of spatial autocorrelation among flow residuals. An example using patent citation data that capture knowledge flows across 112 European regions serves to illustrate the application and the comparison of the two approaches.(authors' abstract)

This paper concentrates on the central link between productivity and knowledge capital, and shifts attention from firms and industries to regions. The objective is to measure knowledge elasticity effects within a regional Cobb- Douglas production function framework, with an emphasis on knowledge spillovers. The analysis uses a panel of 203 European regions to estimate the effects over the period 1997-2002. The dependent variable is total factor productivity (TFP). We use a region-level relative TFP index as an approximation to the true TFP measure. This index describes how efficiently each region transforms physical capital and labour into outputs. The explanatory variables are internal and out-of-region stocks of knowledge, the latter capturing the contribution of interregional knowledge spillovers. We use patents to measure knowledge capital. Patent stocks are constructed such that patents applied at the European Patent Office in one year add to the stock in the following and then depreciate throughout the patents effective life according to a rate of knowledge obsolescence. A random effects panel data spatial error model is advocated and implemented for analyzing the productivity effects. The findings provide a fairly remarkable confirmation of the role of knowledge capital contributing to productivity differences among regions, and adding an important dimension to the discussion, showing that knowledge spillover effects increase with geographic proximity. (authors' abstract)

Food safety scares affect consumption behavior, and food safety and animal health issues are increasingly impacting international agricultural trade. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral-type disease, and has raised not only the concerns of animal health issue but also food safety issue. Over 58 countries in the world have experienced FMD outbreaks, and pork exports and imports among these countries are largely impacted. This dissertation focuses on how global pork trade is affected by FMD. This dissertation consists of three parts: first, this study specifically focuses on the market of U.S. pork exports. Results show that disease-affected pork importers are potential traders with the U.S., and only importing countries with a vaccination policy are more likely to increase pork imports from the U.S. rather than those importers with a slaughter policy. Second, a further investigation focuses basic hypothesis on import demand of FMD-affected importers by using a gravity model with fixed-effects to show how pork trade is affected by FMD among 186 countries. Results confirm that pork export falls when an exporting country develops FMD. Exporters with a vaccination policy have larger negative impacts than those with a slaughter policy. Further, pork importers that develop FMD and institute a slaughter policy will import more pork, but importers with a vaccination policy import the same level of pork. Third, the findings of part one and two reveal that FMD-free pork exporters face different market opportunities when pork importers have FMD outbreaks. Hence, four major FMD-free pork exporters, such as Canada, U.S., Germany, and Spain, are further investigated. Results confirm that the impacts of foreign FMD have altered pork exporters differently. Germany has gained the most exports during foreign FMD outbreaks in pork importers; the U.S. is second; Spain is third; and Canada is fourth. In sum, this dissertation contributes to the literature of gravity model when endogeneity and heteroskedasticity may coexist, when an extremely large number of zero observations are included, when single commodity for one specific exporter is analyzed, when a spatial econometric approach is compared, and when pork export market has been altered by foreign FMD outbreaks.

This dissertation examines multiple state and local expenditure categories in the United States to expand understanding of fiscal federalism and spatial interactions among governments. First, the author investigates the relationship between police expenditures and crime rates from a spatial perspective. Both police expenditures and crime rates in one state are found to exhibit a similar pattern to that in neighboring states. Spatial correlation is also detected between police expenditures and crime rates. As police of neighbors in fact deter crime at home, there are positive externalities present among the states. Second, the author conducts new tests on the Leviathan hypothesis, i.e., more competition, smaller government. While cost efficiency is used in place of government size to capture the idea that fiscal decentralization reduces wasteful expenditures, spatial interaction is taken as another measure for decentralization. The hypothesis is supported by some evidence from total, police, highway, and welfare expenditures.

Whereas no prior contribution has focused on the case of a medium-sized city in a developing country, such as Mexico, to explore how urban structure and its expansion has affected the spatial distribution of employment, three distinct, but related papers were developed, which combine urban economics literature and spatial sciences techniques to fill this gap and provide new evidence. The first paper, entitled "Spatial Distribution of Employment in Hermosillo, 1999 and 2004" identifies where employment subcenters are. Testing the presence of spatial effects, it concludes that an incipient process of employment suburbanization has taken place; however, the city still exhibits a monocentric structure. As a complement, a second paper, "Employment Density in Hermosillo, 1999-2004: A Spatial Econometric Approach of Local Parameters" tests if the Central Business District (CBD), despite suburbanization, maintains the traditional attributes of attracting activities and influencing the organization of employment around it. The CBD is still attractive, but its influence varies across space and economic sector, conclusions that were masked by global estimations. Thirdly, a study was essential to uncover how important is the urban structure and the suburbanization of jobs in explaining the dispersion resulting of households and workplaces (commuting). The paper entitled "Commuting in a Developing City: The Case of Ciudad Obregon, Mexico" examines this issue. To take advantage of the commuting information available, the study area was switched. In general, the results are consistent with those suggested by urban economics; moreover, the inclusion of workplace characteristics was a novelty to model commuting behavior and proves that space matters. Additionally, new evidence was provided to the field of spatial science through the applications of techniques able to expose the spatial effects associated with the distribution of employment, more specifically, the Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis(ESDA), Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) with spatial effects, as well as the generalized multilevel hierarchical linear model (GMHL) were used. The new findings produced for this dissertation provide a more comprehensive understanding of urban dynamics and could help to improve the planning process. It is hoped that this dissertation will contribute to that development as well as stimulate further research.

Dans cette thèse, nous avons développé un algorithme de détermination d’une nouvelle forme de la matrice de poids spatiale qui prend en compte aussi bien les effets de proximité spatiale que les critères idiosyndratiques des unités régionales. Ainsi, nous avons proposé une approche originale de détermination d’une forme stationnaire du diagramme de Moran à travers laquelle nous pouvons déterminer les formes des associations spatiales de long terme. En ce sens, nous avons montré la conformité qui peut exister entre les résultats trouvés suite à l’application de cette approche et ceux découlant à partir de l’estimation du modèle de convergence absolue dans un cadre spatial. Dans une autre partie du travail, nous avons proposé deux nouvelles méthodes de détermination des régimes spatiaux sous forme de polarisation et de stratification. Une nouvelle approche de spécification des modèles spatiaux qui se base sur la robustesse du test de Moran dans la détection de l’autocorrélation spatiale globale et le bon choix de la matrice de poids spatiale, a été encore proposée. Nous avons utilisé l’approche d’Analyse Exploratoire des Données Spatiales, l’Approche d’Econométrie Spatiale et les méthodes que nos avons développées pour expliquer les différentes formes de disparités, des interactions spatiales et de convergence régionale en Inde en termes de taux d’alphabétisation au niveau national, pour l’ensemble de la population (Homme et Femme) et au niveau rural et urbain pour l’ensemble des districts sur la période de 1991-2001. Dans la dernière partie du travail, nous avons développé un modèle théorique des facteurs déterminants de l’alphabétisation en Inde. / In this thesis, we have developed an algorithm for determining a new form of the spatial weight matrix that takes into account both the effects of spatial proximity and the idiosyncratic criteria of regional units. Thus, we propose a new approach for determining a stationary form of the Moran scatter plot in which we highlight the forms of steady state spatial associations and the conformity that can exist between the results arising out of this method and those obtained from the model of absolute convergence in a spatial framework. In another part of the thesis, we propose two new methods of determining the spatial regimes in the form of polarization and stratification. A new approach to the specification of spatial models which is based on the robustness of the Moran test in the detection of global spatial autocorrelation and the proper choice of the spatial weight matrix has also been proposed. We used the approach of Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis, Spatial Econometrics approach and methods we developed to explain the different forms of disparities, spatial interaction and regional convergence in India in terms of literacy rate at the national level for the entire population (Male and Female) and rural and urban level for all districts over the period 1991-2001. In the last part of the work, we develop a theoretical model of the determinants of literacy in India.

O setor sucroenergético do Brasil encarou uma década de expansão da produção, seguida por um período de retração das atividades. Neste período, 80 usinas e destilarias deixaram de operar por motivo de falência das empresas ou decisões operacionais dos grupos controladores. A cana de açúcar possui características biológicas que determinam a necessidade de processamento industrial em poucas horas após a atividade de colheita, sob pena de grande perda de teor de sacarose. Essa questão tecnológica determina que a organização espacial da produção de açúcar e etanol seja preferencialmente realizada dentro de um raio geográfico reduzido em relação aos canaviais. O objetivo desta tese é analisar se as recentes paralisações e falências no setor sucroenergético do Brasil foram influenciadas pelas condições operacionais dos mercados regionais de cana de açúcar, assim como identificar os principais determinantes dos eventos de paralisação das atividades das usinas e destilarias entre 2001 e 2016. Indicadores de estrutura de mercado e concentração espacial são desenvolvidos e discutidos com base no conceito de mercado antitruste usado pelas principais agências de defesa da concorrência. A descrição da estrutura de mercado e a intensidade dos eventos de desligamento e falência em cada região são avaliados considerando a existência de múltiplas unidades de processamento que são de propriedade de uma mesma empresa em cada região. Os resultados indicam que a concentração e a disputa pela cana de açúcar como insumo por usinas localizadas próximas umas das outras estão espacialmente associadas aos eventos de falência e desligamento. No entanto, a análise de sobrevivência indica que o aumento do número de concorrentes demandando este insumo e a expansão do processamento de cana de açúcar no raio geográfico de colheita viável não foram fatores que contribuíram isoladamente para as falências e interrupções. Estes eventos foram menos frequentes entre as unidades industriais cuja empresa controladora conta com investidores estrangeiros na estrutura de capital e nos casos em que uma parcela mais alta dos insumos é obtida por meio de uma estrutura verticalmente integrada. / Brazil\'s sugar and ethanol industry faced a decade of expansion of production, followed by a period of retraction of activities. During this period, 80 mills and distilleries ceased to operate due to corporate bankruptcy or operational decisions of the controlling groups. Sugarcane has biological characteristics that determine the need for industrial processing in a few hours after harvesting, under penalty of great loss of sucrose content. This technological issue determines that the spatial organization of sugar and ethanol production is preferably carried out within a reduced geographic radius in relation to sugar cane fields. The objective of this thesis is to analyze if the recent shutdowns and bankruptcies in the Brazilian sugarcane industry were influenced by the operational conditions of the regional sugarcane markets, as well as to identify the main determinants of stoppage events of the maills and distilleries between 2001 and 2016. Indicators of market structure and spatial concentration are developed and discussed based on the concept of the antitrust market used by the major antitrust agencies. The description of the market structure and the intensity of the shutdown and bankruptcy events in each region are evaluated considering the existence of multiple processing units that are owned by the same company in each region. The results indicate that the concentration and the dispute for sugarcane as an input by plants located close to each other are spatially associated with the events of bankruptcy and shutdown. However, the survival analysis indicates that the increase in the number of competitors demanding this input and the expansion of sugarcane processing in the viable crop geographical radius were not factors that contributed in isolation to bankruptcies and interruptions. These events were less frequent among industrial units whose parent company relies on foreign investors in the capital structure and where a higher share of inputs are obtained through a vertically integrated structure.

Ce travail analyse sous différentes approches la pauvreté au Sénégal en s’appuyant notamment sur les données fournies par les deux dernières enquêtes auprès des ménages (ESAM 2-2002 et ESPS-2006) réalisées par l’Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie en partenariat avec la Banque mondiale.Dans l’analyse de la pauvreté monétaire, nous faisons apparaître des différences importantes en termes de seuils de pauvreté dans les régions avec aux extrêmes la région Dakar 923,55 F CFA (1,40 €) et Tambacounda 515,70 F CFA (0,78€), ce qui suggère le peu de pertinence quant à l’utilisation d’un seuil établi au seul niveau national. Sur la base de ces seuils, les indices de pauvreté issus de la formule générique de Foster, Greer et Thorbecke (FGT) dévoilent une baisse du taux de pauvreté entre 2002 et 2006 de 57,1% à 50,8%, soit de 6,9 point dans l’ensemble du pays et un écart à la ligne de pauvreté passant de 18% à 16,4%. Cette baisse est particulièrement observée dans les régions de Dakar, Diourbel, Kaolack, Saint-Louis et Thiès. Au niveau départemental, les taux de pauvreté montrent une concentration importante dans les zones rurales et l’existence de poches de pauvreté enclavées dans les zones urbaines. L’estimation d’un modèle économétrique spatial met en évidence les facteurs socioéconomiques susceptibles d’expliquer les différences interdépartementales de taux de pauvreté constatées en 2006, notamment le degré de développement économique des territoires (urbanisation, emploi) ainsi que les comportements des ménages liés au niveau d’infrastructures (d’éducation, de santé et de fécondité).Par ailleurs, nous proposons un modèle dichotomique à partir duquel il est possible de mettre en évidence les déterminants de la pauvreté monétaire des chefs de ménage. Les résultats montrent que les femmes chefs de ménage ne sont pas la couche la plus pauvre. De manière générale, les disparités de pauvreté manifestes entre milieux urbain et rural sont largement corrélées à des handicapes en matière de d’éducation et à l’inégal accès aux moyens d’information et de communication.Nous abordons une analyse multidimensionnelle de la pauvreté au Sénégal, à travers une estimation des degrés de privation de certains besoins essentiels des ménages. L’approche par la théorie des ensembles flous utilisée à cet effet suggère que la pauvreté a faiblement diminué : 1 % contre 7 % pour la pauvreté monétaire. Contrairement à l’approche monétaire, la baisse de la pauvreté non monétaire observée concerne d’autres régions comme Kolda et Ziguinchor et les régions de Diourbel et Kaolack connaissent une hausse. L’estimation des indices flous unidimensionnels a permis d’identifier les domaines dans lesquels les ménages affichent le degré de privation le plus important : la qualité du logement, le niveau d'instruction et les moyens d’information et de communication, au-delà du revenu.Les profils de pauvreté monétaire aussi bien que multidimensionnelle sont d’excellents outils pour cibler les groupes les plus nécessiteux de la population. En revanche, ces outils restent muets sur la perception de ces pauvres quant à leur propre situation socioéconomique. En ce sens, une analyse économétrique des facteurs déterminants de la pauvreté ressentie au Sénégal en 2006 fait apparaître l’importance de certaines dimensions non économiques (exclusion sociale, culturelle et manque de concertation des intéressés sur les politiques de développement et de lutte cotre la pauvreté). / This paper analyzes different approaches in poverty in Senegal, relying in particular on data provided by the last two household surveys (ESPS-2-2002 and ESAM 2006) conducted by the National Agency of Statistics and Demography in partnership with the World Bank.In the analysis of monetary poverty, we reveal important differences in terms of poverty lines in regions with at extremes, Dakar 923,55 F CFA (1,40 €) and Tambacounda 515,70 FCFA (0,78€), suggesting little relevance to the use of a threshold at national level alone. On basis of these thresholds, the indices of poverty stemming from the Foster's generic formula, to Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) reveal a reduction in the rate of poverty between 2002 and 2006 from the 57.1 % to 50.8 %, that is 6.9 in the whole of country and a gap in the poverty's line passing from 18 % to 16,4 %. This decline is particularly observed in the regions of Dakar, Diourbel, Kaolack, Saint-Louis and Thies. At the departmental level, poverty rates show a significant concentration in rural areas and the existence of pockets of poverty enclaved in urban areas. The estimation of a spatial econometric model highlights the socioeconomic factors that may explain the interdepartmental differences in poverty rates observed in 2006, including the level of regional economic development (urbanization, employment) and household behavior related at infrastructure (education, health and fertility). Furthermore, we propose a dichotomous model from which it is possible to identify the determinants of income poverty of household heads. The results show that female-headed households are not the poorest layer. In general way, differences of poverty apparent between urban and rural areas are largely correlated with disabilities in terms of education and unequal access to information and communication resources.We are entering a multidimensional analysis of poverty in Senegal, through an estimate of the degree of deprivation of some basic household needs. The approach by the theory of fuzzy sets used for this purpose shows that poverty declined slightly: 1% against 7% for monetary poverty. Unlike the monetary approach, the observed decrease from non-monetary poverty affects other regions as Kolda and Ziguinchor and Kaolack and Diourbel saw an increase. The estimation of one-dimensional fuzzy indexes allowed identifying the domains in which the households post the degree of largest deprivation: the quality of housing, education and information and communication technologies, beyond income.The profiles of monetary poverty as well as multidimensional are excellent tools to target the most destitute groups of the population. However, these tools remain dumb on the perception of these poor people as for their own socioeconomic situation. In this sense, an econometric analysis of the determinants of poverty felt in Senegal in 2006 brings up the importance of certain non-economic dimensions (social exclusion, cultural and lack of consultation of stakeholders on policy development and cutter fight poverty).