To mark the 20th special issue in this series, we are delighted to present Spatial Econometrics: Past and Future 50 Years, guest edited by J. Paul Elhorst and Michaela Kesina. The articles are now available to download until the end of August 2026.
Spatial econometrics has grown from a specialist niche into one of the most active and methodologically rich areas of regional science, and this milestone issue takes stock of that journey while looking ahead to where the field is heading over the next half-century. The guest editors’ own contribution, Spatial econometrics: past and future 50 years, sets the scene, tracing the discipline’s development and identifying the challenges and opportunities that will shape its next phase.
Spatial econometrics: past and future 50 years, guest edited by J. Paul Elhorst and Michaela Kesina
Editorial Spatial econometrics: past and future 50 years
Paul Elhorst & Michaela Kesina
Published online: 09 Jun 2026
Spatial DEA with independent neighbours’ inputs: healthcare efficiency patterns in Europe
Jakub Olejnik, Agata Żółtaszek & Alicja Olejnik
Published online: 22 Dec 2025
Interdependent hazards, local interactions and the return decision of recent migrants
Govert E. Bijwaard & Christian Schluter
Published online: 11 Aug 2025
Regional airports and regional development: spatial difference-in-difference evidence from Poland
Julia Kotowska & Andrzej Torój
Published online: 11 Aug 2025
Fiscal spillovers among Mexican municipalities: a spatial analysis
Alejandro Moreno Jimenez
Published online: 07 Jan 2026
Trade, gravity and cross-sectional dependence
Ioanna Tziolas, Petros Milionis & J. Paul Elhorst
Published online: 02 Feb 2026
Alternative perspectives on spatial econometrics model specification search
Luc Anselin, Renan Serenini & Pedro Amaral
Published online: 23 Jul 2025
Estimating spillover effects in the presence of isolated nodes
Bora Kim
Published online: 22 Jul 2025
Two-stage least squares estimation in a spatial lag model under a complete bipartite network
Badi H. Baltagi & Long Liu
Published online: 08 May 2025
Estimation of spatial panel data models with random effects using Laplace approximation methods
Yuheng Ling, Kaixuan Bai & Yue Yang
Published online: 02 Jun 2025
An M-estimation and inference approach for matrix exponential unbalanced panel data models
Ye Yang, Osman Doğan & Süleyman Taşpınar
Published online: 15 Oct 2025
These papers reflect both the maturity of spatial econometric theory and its continued relevance to pressing real-world questions in health, migration, infrastructure, public finance and trade. We hope readers will find in this issue not only a record of how far the field has come, but also a sense of the exciting directions still to explore.
We are grateful to the guest editors, authors and reviewers for their contributions to this special milestone issue, and to our readers for their continued engagement with the journal.