Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Metropolitan dynamics of accessibility, diversity, and locations of population and activities

Zhang, Sumei

Abstract Details

2008, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, City and Regional Planning.
This research focuses on intra-urban population and employment movements in metropolitan areas, characterized by multiple centers with strong interactions between them. The 1980-2000 Traffic-Analysis-Zone (TAZ) level dynamics of the Metropolitan Areas of Akron, Cincinnati, and Columbus, Ohio, are used as case studies. A large database has been assembled, based on the 1980 Urban Transportation Planning Package (UTPP) and the 1990/2000 Census Transportation Planning Packages (CTPP) produced by the Bureau of Census, involving a significant amount of processing and computations. Four sets of Structural Equation Models (SEMs) are proposed and estimated, in order to answer the following questions: (1) what are the determinants of population and employment movements, (2)What are the interactions between people and jobs, and (3) How do their dynamics change over time and across regions. These four models are (1) the Total Population and Employment Model (Total Model), focusing on aggregate population and employment, (2) the Ethnic Model, where population is disaggregated into three ethnic groups [white, black, and other], (3) the Occupation Model, where population and employment are disaggregated into three occupations [Management/Professional(MP), Support, and Production], and (4) the Industry Model, where population and employment are disaggregated into three industries [Production, Trade, and Service]. The conceptual framework is based on the Deitz (1998) model, but with the following extensions: (1) Differentiation of accessibility at two levels: metropolitan and neighborhood, and (2) Systematic incorporation of social and economic diversity variables. In addition, this research involves more case studies (3 metropolitan areas) and a longer time span (1980-1990-2000) than Deitz. Three statistical techniques are used: Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), 2-Stage Least Squares (2SLS), and Iterative 3-Stage Least Squares (IT3SLS). With the 2SLS and IT3SLS techniques, all accessibility variables are treated as endogenous. This research finds that there is an overall decreasing trend of adjustment towards equilibrium locations for both population and employment. A location with a higher level of social diversity attracts population and a location with higher level of economic diversity attracts jobs. The accessibility variables do not play a significant role in the Total Model, but do so when population and employment are further disaggregated in the other three models. Overall, accessibility variables have more impacts on the white population than on the black and the other populations, on the support and production populations than on the MP population. For employment, jobs tend to agglomerate with similar jobs, with neighborhood-level accessibility to same jobs displaying strong positive impacts in the Industry Model.
Jean-Michel Guldmann (Advisor)
559 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Zhang, S. (2008). Metropolitan dynamics of accessibility, diversity, and locations of population and activities [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1202738192

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zhang, Sumei. Metropolitan dynamics of accessibility, diversity, and locations of population and activities. 2008. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1202738192.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zhang, Sumei. "Metropolitan dynamics of accessibility, diversity, and locations of population and activities." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1202738192

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)