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Urban Land Use Fragmentation and Human Well-Being

Author

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  • Christine Bertram
  • Jan Goebel
  • Christian Krekel
  • Katrin Rehdanz

Abstract

We study how land use fragmentation affects the life satisfaction of city dwellers. To this end, we calculate fragmentation metrics based on exact geographical coordinates of land use from the European Urban Atlas and of households from the German Socio-Economic Panel. Using ordinary least squares and fixed effects specifications, we find little effect on life satisfaction when aggregating over land use types. When looking at particular types, however, we find that life satisfaction is positively affected by lower average degrees of soil sealing, larger shares of vegetation, and more heterogeneous configurations of medium- and low-density urban fabric, especially in areas with higher population density.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine Bertram & Jan Goebel & Christian Krekel & Katrin Rehdanz, 2022. "Urban Land Use Fragmentation and Human Well-Being," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 98(2), pages 399-420.
  • Handle: RePEc:uwp:landec:v:98:y:2022:i:2:p:399-420
    Note: DOI: 10.3368/le.98.2.122019-0175R1
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    2. Christian Krekel & Julia Rechlitz & Johannes Rode & Alexander Zerrahn, 2020. "Quantifying the externalities of renewable energy plants using wellbeing data: The case of biogas," CEP Discussion Papers dp1738, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics

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