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Modelling Worker Residence Distribution in the Los Angeles Region

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  • Shunfeng Song

    (Department of Economics, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA)

Abstract

This paper examines the spatial pattern of worker residences with three different density functions: monocentric, polycentric and dispersive. Analysis of the 1980 journey-to-work census data for the Los Angeles region reveals that the polycentric density function statistically explains the actual distribution better than the monocentric density function, but the dispersive density function fits best. These findings confirm a polycentric spatial pattern, and also imply that overall accessibility to employment opportunities is the primary determinant of residential location choices.

Suggested Citation

  • Shunfeng Song, 1994. "Modelling Worker Residence Distribution in the Los Angeles Region," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 31(9), pages 1533-1544, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:31:y:1994:i:9:p:1533-1544
    DOI: 10.1080/00420989420081411
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ivan Muñiz & Anna Galindo & Miguel Angel García, 2005. "Descentralisation, Integration and polycentrism in Barcelona," Working Papers wpdea0512, Department of Applied Economics at Universitat Autonoma of Barcelona.
    3. Alex Anas & Richard Arnott & Kenneth A. Small, 1998. "Urban Spatial Structure," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 36(3), pages 1426-1464, September.
    4. Catherine Baumont & Françoise Bourdon, 2002. "Centres secondaires et recomposition économique des espaces urbains," Working Papers hal-01544523, HAL.
    5. Ivan Muñiz & Anna Galindo & Miguel à ngel García, 2005. "Descentralización, integración y policentrismo en Barcelona," Working Papers wpdea0505, Department of Applied Economics at Universitat Autonoma of Barcelona.
    6. Josep Roca Cladera & Carlos R. Marmolejo Duarte & Montserrat Moix, 2009. "Urban Structure and Polycentrism: Towards a Redefinition of the Sub-centre Concept," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 46(13), pages 2841-2868, December.
    7. BAUMONT, Catherine & BOURDON, Françoise, 2002. "Centres secondaires et recomposition économique des espaces urbains.Le cas de la Communauté de l'Agglomération Dijonnaise (1990 ; 1999)," LATEC - Document de travail - Economie (1991-2003) 2002-04, LATEC, Laboratoire d'Analyse et des Techniques EConomiques, CNRS UMR 5118, Université de Bourgogne.
    8. Jaume Masip Tresserra, 2012. "Identifying the Employment and Population Centers at regional and metropolitan scale: The Case of Catalonia and Barcelona," ERSA conference papers ersa12p70, European Regional Science Association.
    9. Jin Man Lee & Maude Toussaint-Comeau, 2018. "Determinants of Housing Values and Variations in Home Prices Across Neighborhoods in Cook County," Profitwise, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, issue 1, pages 1-23.
    10. Giuliano, Genevieve & Kang, Sanggyun & Yuan, Quan, 2016. "Spatial Dynamics of the Logistics Industry and Implications for Freight Flows," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt94h6t7s9, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    11. Wu, Hao & Lee, Jinwoo (Brian) & Levinson, David, 2023. "The node-place model, accessibility, and station level transit ridership," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    12. Ottensmann, John R. & Payton, Seth & Man, Joyce, 2008. "Urban Location and Housing Prices within a Hedonic Model," Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, vol. 38(01), pages 1-17.
    13. John F. McDonald & Paul J. Prather, 1994. "Suburban Employment Centres: The Case of Chicago," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 31(2), pages 201-218, March.
    14. Shunfeng Song, 1995. "Does generalizing density functions better explain urban commuting? Some evidence from the Los Angeles region," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(5), pages 148-150.
    15. Ruggeri, Aurora & Di Liddo, Felicia & Gabrielli, Laura & Tajani, Francesco & Morano, Pierluigi, 2025. "What is the “best” way to measure the relative location variables in the market value assessment? An econometric method applied to an Italian case study," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    16. Muñiz, Ivan & Sánchez, Vania, 2018. "Urban Spatial Form and Structure and Greenhouse-gas Emissions From Commuting in the Metropolitan Zone of Mexico Valley," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 353-364.
    17. Jaume Masip Tresserra, 2012. "Does Employment Density death? Towards a new integrated methodology to identify and characterize Sub-Centres," ERSA conference papers ersa12p71, European Regional Science Association.
    18. Miguel à ngel García & Ivan Muñiz, 2005. "Descentralización del empleo: ¿compactación policéntrica o dispersión? El caso de la región metropolitana de Barcelona 1986-1996," Working Papers wpdea0506, Department of Applied Economics at Universitat Autonoma of Barcelona.
    19. Kamar Ali & M. Rose Olfert & Mark Partridge, 2011. "Urban Footprints in Rural Canada: Employment Spillovers by City Size," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(2), pages 239-260.
    20. Miquel-Àngel Garcia-López & Ivan Muñiz, 2010. "Employment Decentralisation: Polycentricity or Scatteration? The Case of Barcelona," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 47(14), pages 3035-3056, December.
    21. Ivan Muñiz & Miquel Àngel Garcia-López & Anna Galindo, 2008. "The Effect of Employment Sub-centres on Population Density in Barcelona," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 45(3), pages 627-649, March.
    22. R Cervero & K-L Wu, 1997. "Polycentrism, Commuting, and Residential Location in the San Francisco Bay Area," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 29(5), pages 865-886, May.
    23. Paolo VENERI, 2010. "The Identification of Sub-centres in Two Italian Metropolitan Areas: a Functional Approach," Working Papers 343, Universita' Politecnica delle Marche (I), Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali.

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