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Assessing Regional Quality of Life: A Call for Action in Regional Science

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  • Dan S. Rickman

    (Oklahoma State University)

Abstract

Intellectual appeal and simplicity of use has led to the widespread application of the spatial hedonic model in assessing regional quality of life. Yet, the traditional spatial hedonic approach contains numerous assumptions, which typically are untested. Violation of the assumptions in practice can lead to significantly biased estimates of regional quality of life. More sophisticated econometric approaches have been developed to reduce the biases. However, each approach typically only addresses one or two of the concerns. More promising is the use of structural models, which by design have the potential to overcome all the limitations of the spatial hedonic approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Dan S. Rickman, 2014. "Assessing Regional Quality of Life: A Call for Action in Regional Science," The Review of Regional Studies, Southern Regional Science Association, vol. 44(1), pages 1-12, Spring.
    • Handle: RePEc:rre:publsh:v44:y:2014:i:1:p:12-jan
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    Cited by:

    1. Rickman, Dan S. & Wang, Hongbo, 2016. "Regional Housing Supply Elasticity in China 1999-2013: A Spatial Equilibrium Analysis," MPRA Paper 69157, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Rickman, Dan S. & Wang, Hongbo, 2015. "Regional Housing Supply Elasticity in Spatial Equilibrium Growth Analysis," MPRA Paper 65148, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. John V Winters & Yu Li, 2017. "Urbanisation, natural amenities and subjective well-being: Evidence from US counties," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 54(8), pages 1956-1973, June.
    4. Hongbo Wang & Dan Rickman, 2020. "Housing Price and Population Growth across China: The Role of Housing Supply," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 43(3), pages 203-228, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    hedonic estimation; spatial equilibrium; quality of life;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population
    • R31 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Housing Supply and Markets

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