2017/01/01 by Stephan Fretz, Raphaël Parchet, Frédéric Robert-Nicoud · 1 voice · 1 citation
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Social Sciences · #Regional Economics and Spatial Analysis #Spatial and Panel Data Analysis #Urban Transport and Accessibility
paper · doi:10.1093/ej/ueab070
openalex publication_date 2017/01/01 · crossref issued 2021/09/13 · crossref published 2021/09/13 · crossref published-online 2021/09/13 · crossref created 2021/09/13 · crossref published-print 2022/04/01 · crossref deposited 2022/04/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref indexed 2026/06/28 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
Abstract We design a parsimonious spatial equilibrium model featuring workers embodied with heterogeneous skills and non-homothetic preferences. In equilibrium, locations with improved commuting access become relatively more attractive to high-income earners. We empirically analyse the effects of the construction of the Swiss highway network between 1960 and 2010 on the population size and composition of municipalities. We find that the advent of a new highway access led to a long-term 24% increase in the share of top-income taxpayers and a 8% decrease in the share of low-income taxpayers, impacting segregation by income. Highways also contributed to job and residential urban sprawl.