THE IMPACT OF THE AGGLOMERATION GROWTH ON SPATIAL CONCENTRATION IN BAGHDAD
Loading...
Date
2011-07
Authors
J. HAMEM, HASSAN
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The industrial agglomeration growth and spatial concentration have
characterized the majority of the capitals in the world; Baghdad is one of them. There
are many factors driving the agglomeration growth and spatial concentration. This
research attempts to determine the relationship between the industrial agglomeration
growth and the main indicators and the impact of growth on increasing spatial
concentration and urban development in Baghdad. The data were collected from the
Iraqi Planning Ministry for the period 2000-2009. The data include seven industrial
categories classified and adapted by the Planning Ministry. Four main theories
relevant to industrial localization: least cost, market area analysis, profit maximization
and least cost for consumer were critiqued. Each theory neglected some location
factors and focused on other factors. The theoreticians considered only the focused
factors and classified them as the most important in industrial localization. In fact, all
the localization factors in the four theories are important in industrial localization.
This means there is no comprehensive theory for industrial localization. This
underlines the need for empirical studies for each agglomeration case in its area,
without relying on similar situations in other countries to assess the agglomeration
national situation. Hence, the aims of this study are to identify the factors affect
industrial agglomeration growth and spatial concentration in Baghdad, to examine the
impact of the main factors on spatial concentration trend and size for all the industrial
categories in order to determine the more spatially appropriate industries for the
period 2000-2009, and also to examine the impact of the industrial agglomeration
growth on the current spatial development in order to determine the acceptable growth
levels of the industrial agglomeration in 2009. The analysis focused on Employment,
Number of factories, Wages and Added Value as main four factors for their
importance and availability. This study utilized actual growth approach, location
quotient, shift share analysis, employment multiplier analysis and a new set of
indicators. The findings indicated that Baghdad occupies the largest industrial
agglomeration in Iraq even though it represents 1 % of Iraq's total area. The main four
factors affect the industrial agglomeration growth in Baghdad unambiguously. The
industrial categories: clothes, food, paper and metal products recorded increases in the
size and trend of concentration, more appropriate localization for the period 2000-
2009 and acceptable levels of agglomeration growth for 2009. However, for oil,
chemical, bricks and cement industries, they recorded a decrease in the size and trend
of concentration, inappropriate localization for the period 2000-2009 and
unacceptable levels of agglomeration growth for 2009.
Description
Keywords
IMPACT , AGGLOMERATION GROWTH