Market Access and Regional Wage Structure : Estimating the Helpman-Hanson Model for Sweden

Abstract: In this paper the Helpman-Hanson model is estimated using Swedish municipality level data. The Helpman-Hanson model builds on Krugman’s contributions to the NEG theory but makes use of a housing sector instead of the usual agricultural sector. The Helpman-Hanson equation is optimized both in levels and in first differences and the results confirm a positive relationship between wages and market potential, although the effect of transport costs on the distribution of wages turns out to be non-existent. Additionally, all of the estimated structural parameter values end up within the consistency ranges required by theory and most of them, except for a very large estimate for the elasticity of substitution, fall in line with previous research.