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Diminishing effects of location? Some evidence from Swiss municipalities, 1950–2000

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  • Portnov, Boris A.
  • Axhausen, Kay W.
  • Tschopp, Martin
  • Schwartz, Moshe

Abstract

This paper analyzes how location has affected, in the second half of the twentieth century, the population growth of 2889 municipalities in Switzerland. The analysis demonstrates the temporal relativity of location attributes, even for small territorial divisions, such as the Swiss cantons. However, we also show that, both absolute and relative location attributes have weakened over time as population growth predictors, apparently due to improving road infrastructures, and growing motorization. The study has been made possible by a detailed historical population and accessibility database available for Swiss municipalities. To the best of our knowledge, no database of such scope and quality is available for any other European country.

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  • Portnov, Boris A. & Axhausen, Kay W. & Tschopp, Martin & Schwartz, Moshe, 2011. "Diminishing effects of location? Some evidence from Swiss municipalities, 1950–2000," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(6), pages 1368-1378.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:19:y:2011:i:6:p:1368-1378
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2011.07.017
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    1. Bouzouina, Louafi & Baraklianos, Ioannis & Bonnel, Patrick & Aissaoui, Hind, 2021. "Renters vs owners: The impact of accessibility on residential location choice. Evidence from Lyon urban area, France (1999–2013)," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 72-84.
    2. Joséphine Leuba, 2019. "Natural amenities and the spatial distribution of Swiss income," IRENE Working Papers 19-04, IRENE Institute of Economic Research.
    3. Juan Luis Santos & María Teresa Fernández Fernández, 2023. "The spread of urban–rural areas and rural depopulation in central Spain," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(4), pages 863-877, May.
    4. Yanzhe Cui & Pengjun Zhao & Ling Li & Juan Li & Mingyuan Gong & Yiling Deng & Zihuang Si & Shuaichen Yan & Xuewei Dang, 2024. "A new model for residential location choice using residential trajectory data," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.

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