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Inter-urban Differences in the Quality of Life

In: Transport and the Urban Environment

Author

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  • Irving Hoch

Abstract

This paper carries forward a line of inquiry formulated in two previous papers [1, 2] by developing and testing a number of interrelated hypotheses about urban scale, a term employed to embrace both urban population size and density. It is hypothesised that with increases in urban scale there is a net decline in the quality of life, including economic, environmental and social aspects. There are likely to be some positive effects with scale, but such seem more than balanced by other, negative, effects. However, equilibrating mechanisms are at work, and the net quality decline tends to be balanced by increases in money wages for performance of the same work. This is not to argue that what exists is optimal: there is the possibility of improvement through a number of institutional changes, particularly through better pricing. However, awareness of the trade-off of quality for income should be useful in appraisal of proposed policies that probably go too far, through focus on the cost side and neglect of the offsetting benefits of urban scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Irving Hoch, 1974. "Inter-urban Differences in the Quality of Life," International Economic Association Series, in: J. G. Rothenberg & Ian G. Heggie (ed.), Transport and the Urban Environment, chapter 3, pages 54-98, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:intecp:978-1-349-02007-2_3
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-349-02007-2_3
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    Cited by:

    1. Harry W. Richardson, 1976. "The Argument for very Large Cities Reconsidered: A Comment," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 13(3), pages 307-310, October.
    2. repec:eee:labchp:v:1:y:1986:i:c:p:641-692 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Bruce Walker, 1979. "Income Distribution, City Size and Urban Growth: A Comment," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 16(3), pages 341-343, October.

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