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Urban residential density and income

1980, Journal of Urban Economics

Abstract

Spatial variations in income have not been adequately accounted for in urban density regressions. Estimating equations incorporating household income are derived in a monocentric urban model. The technique used also yields an estimate of the income elasticity of demand for housing, found to be less than one.

Key takeaways

  • There are two related problems with empirical analysis based on the density equation expressed in (1) related to the spatial variation in household income.
  • The next section indicates the correct form for the density equation in a model with a continuous income distribution.
  • Based on this set of assumptions, the expectation is that increased income lowers density and that density declines with distance from the CBD.
  • It was assumed that the distribution of income had the following form
  • The discrete form directly points out the effects of household income and the price of land on urban density.