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Urban spatial structure and environmental emissions: a survey of the literature and some empirical evidence for Italian NUTS-3 regions

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  • Davide Burgalassi
  • Tommaso Luzzati

Abstract

This paper addresses the relationship between urban spatial structure and emissions.By surveying the most relevant literature, firstly we discuss the concept of spatial structure, focusing in particular on polycentricity and dispersion, then we summarise the possible links between spatial structure and emissions. The survey provides the framework to explore the empirical evidence for Italy concerning CO2 and PMs emissions originating from private transport and house heating. Results suggest that spatial structure affects CO2 emissions from private transport and PMs from housing emissions. There is no evidence that polycentricity reduces emissions

Suggested Citation

  • Davide Burgalassi & Tommaso Luzzati, 2015. "Urban spatial structure and environmental emissions: a survey of the literature and some empirical evidence for Italian NUTS-3 regions," Discussion Papers 2015/199, Dipartimento di Economia e Management (DEM), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
    • Handle: RePEc:pie:dsedps:2015/199
    Note: ISSN 2039-1854
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    5. Julián Moral-Carcedo, 2024. "Dissuasive effect of low emission zones on traffic: the case of Madrid Central," Transportation, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 25-49, February.
    6. Mingshu Wang, 2021. "Polycentric urban development and urban amenities: Evidence from Chinese cities," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 48(3), pages 400-416, March.
    7. Cardoso, Rodrigo V. & Meijers, Evert J. & van Ham, Maarten & Burger, Martijn J. & de Vos, Duco, 2017. "The City as a Self-Help Book: The Psychology of Urban Promises," IZA Discussion Papers 10693, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Dong Feng & Jian Li & Xintao Li & Zaisheng Zhang, 2019. "The Effects of Urban Sprawl and Industrial Agglomeration on Environmental Efficiency: Evidence from the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-12, May.
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    10. Age Poom & Rein Ahas, 2016. "How Does the Environmental Load of Household Consumption Depend on Residential Location?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-18, August.
    11. Yuxin Liu & Chenjing Fan & Dongdong Xue, 2024. "A Review of the Effects of Urban and Green Space Forms on the Carbon Budget Using a Landscape Sustainability Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-29, February.
    12. He, Xiaoping & Yu, Yuxuan & Jiang, Shuo, 2023. "City centrality, population density and energy efficiency," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
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    14. Wan Li & Bindong Sun & Tinglin Zhang, 2019. "Spatial structure and labour productivity: Evidence from prefectures in China," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(8), pages 1516-1532, June.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Urban spatial structure; polycentricity; urban sprawl; emissions; road transport; residential heating.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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