The Problem of Attraction-repulsion at the Heart of the Possible Convergence of the Topodynamic Approach and the New Economic Geography
This paper presents non-numerical solutions to the Fermat, Weber and attraction-repulsion problems. It stresses the close relationship between the topodynamic approach and the New Economic Geography while pointing out the differences between the concepts of attractive and repulsive forces associated with the attraction-repulsion problem and those of agglomeration and repulsion forces of the New Economic Geography. Finally, it explores whether and to what extent the topodynamic and New Economic Geography approaches will converge.