The megaregion – forms, functions, and potential? A literature review and proposal for advancing research

ABSTRACT

The megaregion is viewed as a platform from which to address a variety of issues. Despite agreement that a megaregion is a large, globally connected urban agglomeration, there is no consensus as to how to delineate its boundaries and how it differs from other urban forms. The scholarly literature is dominated by three distinct analytic approaches: interdependent systems, nodal linkages, and satellite data. We assess the utility of each approach in delineating the boundaries of four megaregions – BosWash, Greater Tokyo, the Amsterdam-Brussels-Antwerp region, and a Global South megaregion – and conclude by proposing a sequence of steps to guide future research.

Highlights

• Delineating megaregion boundaries; differentiation with other urban agglomerations.

• Dominant approaches: interdependent systems, nodal linkages, and satellite data.

• Megaregion vignettes: BosWash, Tokyo, Amsterdam-Brussels-Antwerp, and Global South.

• Comparative analysis requires a clear, broadly accepted definition of megaregion.

• Combine dominant approaches to clearly define megaregion and delineate boundaries.

KEYWORDS:

• Megaregion
• literature review
• interdependent systems
• nodal linkages
• satellite data

Acknowledgements

An early version of this paper was presented at the 2021 North American Meetings of the Regional Science Association International. The authors are grateful for feedback received at that event and for comments from Catherine Ross, Adjo Amekudzi-Kennedy, Russ Clark, Beth Mynatt, Jeff Wilson, and participants in the Institute for People and Technology's ‘Think Tank’.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

A categorized list of papers used in the literature review is available upon request from the corresponding author.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

Research funding was provided by Georgia Tech’s Office of the Vice President for Research Development, the Digital Integrative Liberal Arts Center, and the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs. An early version of this paper was presented at the 2021 North American Meetings of the Regional Science Association International.