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The Value of Rural and Urban Public Infrastructure

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Listed:
  • David Albouy
  • Heejin Kim

Abstract

The authors estimate the value of public infrastructure using a panel of rural and urban counties in the United States from 1970 to 2012. Regression estimates imply public infrastructure increases employment more in urban counties, while improving property values more in rural ones; positive effects on income are similar. Spatial equilibrium modeling suggests public capital has similar quality-of-life and productivity benefits in urban and rural areas but does more to reduce costs of providing housing in urban ones. While public investments in rural and urban counties appear to pass conventional cost–benefit tests, dollar-per-dollar they are more valuable in urban counties.

Suggested Citation

  • David Albouy & Heejin Kim, 2022. "The Value of Rural and Urban Public Infrastructure," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 36(3), pages 177-192, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecdequ:v:36:y:2022:i:3:p:177-192
    DOI: 10.1177/08912424221112074
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yiting Wu & Yunqing Liu & Zekun Dai & Fang Da, 2024. "County-Level Economic Development Mode in the Context of China’s Rural Revitalization: A Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(4), pages 21582440241, November.

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