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Equilibrium commuting

Author

Listed:
  • Marcus Berliant

    (Washington University)

  • Takatoshi Tabuchi

    (University of Tokyo)

Abstract

We consider the role of a nonlinear commuting cost function in determination of the equilibrium commuting pattern where all agents are mobile. Previous literature has considered only linear commuting cost, where in equilibrium, all workers are indifferent about their workplace location. We show that this no longer holds for nonlinear commuting cost. The equilibrium commuting pattern is completely determined by the concavity or convexity of commuting cost as a function of distance. We show that a monocentric equilibrium exists when the ratio of the firm agglomeration externality to commuting cost is sufficiently high. We also show that equilibrium residential land rent is decreasing and convex in distance to the business district under concave commuting cost given that the total land used for offices is smaller than that used for housing. Finally, we find empirical evidence of both long and short commutes in equilibrium, implying that the commuting cost function is likely concave.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcus Berliant & Takatoshi Tabuchi, 2018. "Equilibrium commuting," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 65(3), pages 609-627, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:joecth:v:65:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s00199-017-1032-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s00199-017-1032-5
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    11. Ross, Stephen L., 1996. "The Long-Run Effect of Economic Development Policy on Resident Welfare in a Perfectly Competitive Urban Economy," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 354-380, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marcus Berliant & Takatoshi Tabuchi, 2018. "Equilibrium commuting," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 65(3), pages 609-627, May.
    2. Osawa, Minoru & Akamatsu, Takashi, 2020. "Equilibrium refinement for a model of non-monocentric internal structures of cities: A potential game approach," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    3. Akamatsu, Takashi & Wada, Kentaro & Iryo, Takamasa & Hayashi, Shunsuke, 2021. "A new look at departure time choice equilibrium models with heterogeneous users," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 152-182.
    4. KONDO Keisuke, 2020. "A Structural Estimation of the Disutility of Commuting," Discussion papers 20031, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    5. Dauth, Wolfgang & Haller, Peter, 2016. "The valuation of changes in commuting distances: an analysis using georeferenced data," IAB-Discussion Paper 201643, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    6. Dauth, Wolfgang & Haller, Peter, 2019. "Loss aversion in the trade-off between wages and commuting distances," VfS Annual Conference 2019 (Leipzig): 30 Years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall - Democracy and Market Economy 203611, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    7. Osawa, Minoru & Akamatsu, Takashi, 2019. "Emergence of Urban Landscapes: Equilibrium Selection in a Model of Internal Structure of the Cities," MPRA Paper 92395, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Garrido-da-Silva, Liliana & Castro, Sofia B.S.D. & Correia-da-Silva, João, 2022. "Location of housing and industry around city centre amenities," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    9. Akamatsu, Takashi & Wada, Kentaro & Iryo, Takamasa & Hayashi, Shunsuke, 2018. "Departure time choice equilibrium and optimal transport problems," MPRA Paper 90361, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Commuting; Land rent; Wage gradient; Monocentric city;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R13 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General Equilibrium and Welfare Economic Analysis of Regional Economies
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise

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