@article{ART003321582},
author={Minyoung Kim},
title={Does Metropolitan Monocentricity Constrain Economic Growth?: The Relationship between Urban Primacy and National Economic Performance},
journal={The Korea Spatial Planning Review},
issn={1229-8638},
year={2026},
volume={128},
pages={53-70},
doi={10.15793/kspr.2026.128..003}
TY - JOUR
AU - Minyoung Kim
TI - Does Metropolitan Monocentricity Constrain Economic Growth?: The Relationship between Urban Primacy and National Economic Performance
JO - The Korea Spatial Planning Review
PY - 2026
VL - 128
IS - null
PB - 국토연구원
SP - 53
EP - 70
SN - 1229-8638
AB - As monocentric concentration in the Seoul Metropolitan Area has intensified, socioeconomic challenges such as widening interregional economic disparities and population outflows have persisted. However, Much of the existing studies have concluded that urban primacy in Korea is being mitigated based on population size criteria, which diverges from the perceived reality of metropolitan concentration. Accordingly, this study analyzes the long-term trajectory of urban primacy in Korea from 1975 to 2025 based on functional urban areas, and empirically examines the impact of urban primacy on per capita GDP through international panel regression analysis covering 143 countries over the period 1975 to 2020. The analysis reveals that Korea's urban primacy has been structurally intensified even after the completion of urbanization. Furthermore, the size gap between the first city (the Seoul metropolitan area) and the second-third cities (Busan and Daegu metropolitan areas), as well as the expanding population share of the first city, were confirmed to have significant negative effects on national economic performance. This suggests that excessive urban primacy operates as a constraint on national growth.
KW - Urban Primacy;Metropolitan Concentration;Economic Performance;Functional Urban Area;Polycentric Urban System
DO - 10.15793/kspr.2026.128..003
ER -
Minyoung Kim. (2026). Does Metropolitan Monocentricity Constrain Economic Growth?: The Relationship between Urban Primacy and National Economic Performance. The Korea Spatial Planning Review, 128, 53-70.
Minyoung Kim. 2026, "Does Metropolitan Monocentricity Constrain Economic Growth?: The Relationship between Urban Primacy and National Economic Performance", The Korea Spatial Planning Review, vol.128, pp.53-70. Available from: doi:10.15793/kspr.2026.128..003
Minyoung Kim "Does Metropolitan Monocentricity Constrain Economic Growth?: The Relationship between Urban Primacy and National Economic Performance" The Korea Spatial Planning Review 128 pp.53-70 (2026) : 53.
Minyoung Kim. Does Metropolitan Monocentricity Constrain Economic Growth?: The Relationship between Urban Primacy and National Economic Performance. 2026; 128 53-70. Available from: doi:10.15793/kspr.2026.128..003
Minyoung Kim. "Does Metropolitan Monocentricity Constrain Economic Growth?: The Relationship between Urban Primacy and National Economic Performance" The Korea Spatial Planning Review 128(2026) : 53-70.doi: 10.15793/kspr.2026.128..003
Minyoung Kim. Does Metropolitan Monocentricity Constrain Economic Growth?: The Relationship between Urban Primacy and National Economic Performance. The Korea Spatial Planning Review, 128, 53-70. doi: 10.15793/kspr.2026.128..003
Minyoung Kim. Does Metropolitan Monocentricity Constrain Economic Growth?: The Relationship between Urban Primacy and National Economic Performance. The Korea Spatial Planning Review. 2026; 128 53-70. doi: 10.15793/kspr.2026.128..003
Minyoung Kim. Does Metropolitan Monocentricity Constrain Economic Growth?: The Relationship between Urban Primacy and National Economic Performance. 2026; 128 53-70. Available from: doi:10.15793/kspr.2026.128..003
Minyoung Kim. "Does Metropolitan Monocentricity Constrain Economic Growth?: The Relationship between Urban Primacy and National Economic Performance" The Korea Spatial Planning Review 128(2026) : 53-70.doi: 10.15793/kspr.2026.128..003
