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The more the merrier? Evidence on quality of life and population size using historical mines

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  • Leknes, Stefan

Abstract

I investigate the relationship between population size and quality of life. The quantity and quality of consumer amenities will increase with urban scale if they are not offset by congestion effects. To deal with endogenous urban scale, I utilize a quasi-experimental design where I exploit the spatial distribution of mineral resources using Norwegian mines from the 12th to the 19th centuries. The findings suggest that cities become more attractive as a consequence of higher population size.

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  • Leknes, Stefan, 2015. "The more the merrier? Evidence on quality of life and population size using historical mines," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1-17.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:regeco:v:54:y:2015:i:c:p:1-17
    DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2015.06.003
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    Cited by:

    1. Pedro Gerber Machado & Arnaldo Walter & Michelle Cristina Picoli & Cristina Gerber João, 2017. "Potential impacts on local quality of life due to sugarcane expansion: a case study based on panel data analysis," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 2069-2092, October.
    2. Leknes, Stefan & Rattsø, Jørn & Stokke, Hildegunn E., 2022. "Assortative labor matching, city size, and the education level of workers," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    3. Carlsen, Fredrik & Rattsø, Jørn & Stokke, Hildegunn E., 2016. "Education, experience, and urban wage premium," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 39-49.
    4. Ana Paula Barreira & Carla Amado & Sérgio Santos & Jorge Andraz & Maria Helena Guimarães, 2021. "Assessment and Determinants of the Quality of Life in Portuguese Cities," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 44(6), pages 647-683, November.
    5. Wei-Bin Zhang, 2017. "Multi-Regional Growth, Agglomeration and Land Values in a Generalized Heckscher-Ohlin Trade Model," Eastern European Business and Economics Journal, Eastern European Business and Economics Studies Centre, vol. 3(3), pages 270-305.
    6. Stefan Leknes, 2017. "Churning in thick labor markets. Evidence of heterogeneous responses along the skill and experience gradients," Discussion Papers 866, Statistics Norway, Research Department.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Quality of life; Urban scale; Path dependence; Historical mines;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J00 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - General
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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