CALL FOR CHAPTERS: “The Handbook of Urban and Regional Economics”
The editors invite chapter proposals for the Handbook of Urban and Regional Economics, a comprehensive and analytically rigorous volume examining recent advances in spatial theory, quantitative modelling, and empirical research on subnational development.
The Handbook aims to synthesise frontier research in structural spatial modelling and causal empirical analysis while integrating institutions, fiscal architectures, and governance structures into mainstream regional economic frameworks. Emphasis will be placed on understanding persistent subnational inequality, regional adjustment to global shocks, and the evolving spatial consequences of digitalization, climate transition and geopolitical restructuring.
We welcome chapter proposals that engage with the following themes:
- Spatial economic theory
- Structural spatial equilibrium models and quantitative urban economics
- Advances in spatial econometrics and structural estimation
- Agglomeration economies and productivity dynamics
- Regional divergence and structural transformation
- Land markets, housing supply, and regulatory constraints
- Commuting, residential mobility and internal migration
- Informality and dual urban systems
- Climate and cities
- Migration and cities
- Infrastructure, accessibility, and regional productivity
- Trade shocks, global value chains, and regional specialisation
- Fiscal federalism, intergovernmental transfers, and regional inequality
- Metropolitan fragmentation and governance efficiency
- State capacity and subnational financial performance
- Measurement of regional inequality and well-being
- Climate transition and green regional adjustment
The editors remain open to proposals addressing additional themes, provided they demonstrate strong theoretical foundations, methodological rigor and clear relevance to spatial economic analysis.
Proposed chapters should demonstrate:
- Strong analytical foundations in economic theory and/or structural modelling.
- Rigorous empirical identification strategies or quantitative spatial methods.
- Engagement with recent advances in the field (last 10–15 years).
- Clear subnational or regional focus.
- Where possible, integration of evidence from both advanced and emerging economies.
The Handbook seeks contributions that advance conceptual clarity, methodological rigor, and comparative empirical insight. Descriptive case studies without analytical framing will not be considered.
Submission process
Interested contributors are invited to submit:
- A 500-word abstract outlining the chapter’s core argument, methodology and
- A short biographical note (150 words).
- Key recent publications relevant to the proposed topic.
Abstracts will be received on a rolling basis (deadline April 30th, 2026).
Notification of abstract acceptance: May 31st, 2026.
Full chapter deadline: November 15th, 2026.
Editors’ contact information
Alejandra Trejo Nieto
José Luis Niño Amezquita
jlninoam@universidadean.edu.co
NOTE: All submitted abstracts will be evaluated by the editors prior to inclusion in the Handbook proposal. The Handbook proposal will undergo external peer review by the publisher prior to approval. All submitted full chapters will be subject to a review process before inclusion in the final volume. The Handbook aims to meet the highest standards of scholarly rigor and only chapters that satisfy strong analytical and methodological criteria will be included.