Working Paper: NBER ID: w8857
Authors: Sukkoo Kim
Abstract: One of the most important representations of an urban spatial structure is its density. Indeed, an urban area is defined as a densely populated place with a sizeable number of inhabitants. Yet, despite the fact that the defining element of an urban area is its density, few scholars have systematically examined the long-run changes in the densities of economic activities in these areas. This paper documents the historical changes in population and employment densities in U.S. cities and metropolitan areas and explores the causes of their rise and decline between the late nineteenth and the twentieth centuries.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: R11; N70
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| increased density (R23) | specialization in transaction services such as wholesale trade, finance, insurance, and real estate (L84) |
| falling transportation costs (R41) | reduction in population density (J11) |
| rising incomes (E25) | reduction in population density (J11) |
| joint location decisions of firms and households (R30) | trends in urban density (R23) |
| falling transportation costs and rising incomes (R41) | reduction in population density (J11) |
| location decisions of firms and households (R30) | rapid decline in population and employment densities (R23) |