Performance, Position and Competition between Places

Abstract

The paper uses a finite mixture modelling approach to investigate the likely determinants of relative economic performance of Irish towns. The particular success factors that we focus on are measures of connectivity, position and competitive capacity of places. Our main argument is that these determinants of success can act in different ways on different groups of towns. The mixture model is able to detect this fact. The insights provided by the model are important additions to our understanding of spatial dynamics and contribute to the policy debate on spatial planning and infrastructural investment.