Economics
Urban growth shadows
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Does a location's growth benefit or suffer from being geographically close to large economic centers? Spatial proximity may lead to competition and hurt growth, but it may also improve market access and enhance growth. Using data on U.S. counties and metro areas for the period 1840–2017, we document this tradeoff between urban shadows and urban access. Proximity to large urban centers was negatively associated with growth between 1840 and 1920, and positively associated with growth after 1920. Using a two-city spatial model, we show that the secular evolution of inter-city and intra-city commuting costs can account for this. Alternatively, the long-run decline in inter-city shipping costs relative to intra-city commuting costs is also consistent with these observed patterns.
Publication Title
Journal of Urban Economics
Publication Date
5-2021
Volume
123
ISSN
0094-1190
DOI
10.1016/j.jue.2021.103334
Keywords
1840–2017, city growth, commuting, spatial economics, United states, urban access, urban shadows, urban systems
Repository Citation
Cuberes, David; Desmet, Klaus; and Rappaport, Jordan, "Urban growth shadows" (2021). Economics. 47.
https://commons.clarku.edu/faculty_economics/47