Evaluating the Impact of Logistics Hub Formation in Isfahan Province on Regional Economy Based on Two-Regional Computable General Equilibrium Model

The present study has evaluated the impact of logistics hub formation in Isfahan province on this province.
 In this regard, by designing and developing a two regional Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model (Isfahan province and other national economies), the economic effects resulting from the reduction of transportation cost (logistics cost) as a result of applying this logistics policy on this province has been evaluated. In this model, which is widely based on the theory of New Economic Geography (NEG), there are 3 basic assumptions including: 1- Iceberg-type transportation cost; 2- the utility function of Dixit-Stiglitz (1977) type and 3- the production function of the industrial sector with increasing returns technology has been taken into account. The main database used in the estimation of this model is the two-regional Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) obtained by adjusting the two-regional input-output table calculated by the researchers with the new mixed CHARM-RAS method.
The findings revealed that the establishment of a logistics hub in this province leads to industrial agglomeration, increase in employment, total gross production and labor productivity. Therefore, the application of this logistics policy has a positive economic effect on the region - without considering the environmental effects of such agglomeration.