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Excess Commuting and the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem

Author

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  • Mark W. Horner

    (Department of Geography, The Ohio State University, 1036 Derby Hall, Columbus, OH 43210-1361, USA, horner.38@osu.edu a)

  • Alan T. Murray

    (Department of Geography, The Ohio State University, 1036 Derby Hall, Columbus, OH 43210, murray.308@osu.edu)

Abstract

Excess commuting has emerged during the past two decades as an important construct for evaluating the spatial relationships between employment and residential locations. During this time-period, there has been an on-going debate regarding how one should measure excess commuting in urban regions. This paper contributes to the debate by focusing on the spatial issues inherent in excess commuting evaluation. We demonstrate how scale and unit definition (the modifiable areal unit problem) are manifested in the assessment of excess commuting, both in theoretical and empirical terms. To this end, a geographical information systems-based analysis is presented which explores spatial sensitivities in the excess commuting measure. Our results show that aggregation and spatial unit definition may have profound impacts on the estimation of excess commuting. This work provides a formal resolution to much of the recent debate regarding estimates of excess commuting in urban regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark W. Horner & Alan T. Murray, 2002. "Excess Commuting and the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 39(1), pages 131-139, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:39:y:2002:i:1:p:131-139
    DOI: 10.1080/00420980220099113
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Small, Kenneth A & Song, Shunfeng, 1992. ""Wasteful" Commuting: A Resolution," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 100(4), pages 888-898, August.
    2. White, M.J., 1988. "Urban Commuting Journeys Are Not Wasteful," Papers 88-10, Michigan - Center for Research on Economic & Social Theory.
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    5. David Merriman & Toru Ohkawara & Tsutomu Suzuki, 1995. "Excess Commuting in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area: Measurement and Policy Simulations," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 32(1), pages 69-85, February.
    6. Frost, Martin & Linneker, Brian & Spence, Nigel, 1998. "Excess or wasteful commuting in a selection of British cities," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 32(7), pages 529-538, September.
    7. White, Michelle J, 1988. "Urban Commuting Journeys Are Not "Wasteful."," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 96(5), pages 1097-1110, October.
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