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A note on commuting times and city size: Testing variances as well as means

Author

Listed:
  • An, Qian

    (University of Southern California)

  • Gordon, Peter

    (University of Southern California)

  • Moore II, James

    (University of Southern California)

Abstract

Relatively little attention has been paid to the relationship between commute time variances and city size. In this paper, we utilize 2009 Nationwide Highway Travel Survey data and test the relationship between area commute-time means as well as variances in metropolitan-area size. We include tests for metropolitan areas as a whole and for residents from urban, suburban, second city, and town-and-county areas. The regression analysis shows that all estimated slopes are statistically significant but not much greater than zero. Commute time means and variances are highly correlated. These relationships are also invariant with respect to the place of residence. An extensive collection of literature provides evidence for the co-location of workers and jobs hypothesis: average commute times do not rise appreciably as metropolitan population increases. We conclude that these results are additional, although indirect, evidence for the co-location hypothesis.

Suggested Citation

  • An, Qian & Gordon, Peter & Moore II, James, 2014. "A note on commuting times and city size: Testing variances as well as means," The Journal of Transport and Land Use, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, vol. 7(2), pages 105-110.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:jtralu:0137
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kemeny, Thomas & Storper, Michael, 2012. "Specialization and regional economic development," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 58538, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Bumsoo LEE & Peter GORDON, 2011. "Urban Structure: Its Role In Urban Growth, Net New Business Formation And Industrial Churn," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 33, pages 137-159.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Commute Time; Variance; Population; Sprawl; Co-location;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R40 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - General

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