From hierarchy to network : An agent-based model about the effects on spatial development in the urban area

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2013-08
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en
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Governance and urban governance has changed over the last few decades. In the literature, a shift from a hierarchical to a more network form of governance is observed. While a hierarchical form of governance has vertical actor relations, the network form of governance has horizontal actor relations and uses negotiation as logic of action. This shift in governance is also observed in the Netherlands and, in the beginning of the new century, reactions to this change in society were visible in the new policies. Some policy effects related to the shift to a network form of governance are related in the existing literature to the end of the original compact city and the idea of a central place. Although compact development is still desirable for financial and environmental reasons, a possible effect could be the emergence of urban sprawl, which means excessive spatial development could be observed. There is some uncertainty if a network type of governance is actually the most capable form of governance to achieve the actual desired urban patterns: network cities without excessive spatial growth. However, although it is a common assumption made in the existing literature, we do not know if a network form of governance actually leads to less compact development. This study is aiming to provide insight about the effects of different governance types on the structure of urban development. In this study, an agent-based model is constructed to simulate two land development strategies related to either a hierarchical or a network form of governance. The land development strategies are linked to many aspects of networks and hierarchies in the existing literature. The public land development model and the public-private partnership model, both relevant in the context of Dutch planning process, will represent the hierarchical and network governance types and are simulated in the model. It seems that the structure of spatial development is not particularly determined by the logic of action, but rather by the preferences of the relevant decision-making actors in the process of land development. This study will show that the difference in core business, values and strategies are the main cause for a significant difference in the structure of development. It is argued that the public actor itself has to determine whether the advantages of networks and a public-private partnership outweigh the disadvantages.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen