Abstract
We construct a unique data set in order to analyze whether or not a large
temporary shock has an impact on city growth. Following recent work by Davis
and Weinstein (2002) on Japan, we take the strategic bombing of German cities
during WWII as an example of such a shock, and analyze its impact on post-war
German city growth. If the war shock has only a temporary impact, then there
will be a tendency towards mean reversion. Our main finding is that the bombing
had a significant but temporary impact on post-war city growth in Germany as a
whole as well as in western Germany separately (FRG), but that this is not the
case for city growth in eastern Germany (GDR).
temporary shock has an impact on city growth. Following recent work by Davis
and Weinstein (2002) on Japan, we take the strategic bombing of German cities
during WWII as an example of such a shock, and analyze its impact on post-war
German city growth. If the war shock has only a temporary impact, then there
will be a tendency towards mean reversion. Our main finding is that the bombing
had a significant but temporary impact on post-war city growth in Germany as a
whole as well as in western Germany separately (FRG), but that this is not the
case for city growth in eastern Germany (GDR).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Utrecht |
| Publisher | UU USE Tjalling C. Koopmans Research Institute |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 |
Publication series
| Name | Discussion Paper Series / Tjalling C. Koopmans Research Institute |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Tjalling C. Koopmans Research Institute |
| No. | 09 |
| Volume | 03 |
| ISSN (Electronic) | 2666-8238 |
Keywords
- city-growth
- mean reversion
- WWII bombing of German cities