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Urban spatial structure, suburbanization and transportation in Barcelona

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  • Garcia-López, Miquel-Àngel

Abstract

I investigate the effect of improvements to the transportation infrastructure on changes in location patterns of population in Barcelona, Spain between 1991 and 2006. At a census tract level, I verify and extend the finding of Baum-Snow (2007a) that transportation improvements cause suburbanization: (1) improvements to the highway and railroad systems foster population growth in suburban areas; (2) the transit system also affects the location of population inside the central business district (CBD). To estimate the causal relationship between the growth of population (density) and transportation improvements, I rely on an instrumental variables estimation that uses distances to the nearest Roman road, the nearest 19th century main road, and the nearest 19th century railroad network as instruments for the 1991–2001 changes in distance to the nearest highway ramp and the distance to the nearest railroad station.

Suggested Citation

  • Garcia-López, Miquel-Àngel, 2012. "Urban spatial structure, suburbanization and transportation in Barcelona," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(2), pages 176-190.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juecon:v:72:y:2012:i:2:p:176-190
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jue.2012.05.003
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Urban spatial structure; Suburbanization; Transportation infrastructure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics
    • R2 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis
    • R3 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location
    • R4 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics

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