A Note on Commutes and the Spatial Mismatch Hypothesis

Authors

Kelly DeRango, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research

Publication Date

1-1-2000

Series

Upjohn Institute Working Paper No. 00-59

DOI

10.17848/wp00-59

Abstract

A number of empirical studies have tested the spatial mismatch hypothesis by examining the commuting times of blacks and whites. This note points out that the link between spatial mismatch and commuting times may be weak when employment probabilities decline as the distance from job site to residence increases. A simple spatial model of urban employment is developed in which a fixed number of agents live in the central city. Two examples are presented in which increased spatial mismatch may either increase or decrease the average commuting time of central city minorities, depending on the rate at which employment probabilities decline with distance.

Issue Date

January 2000

Subject Areas

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; Regional policy and planning; Urban issues