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Population and employment densities: structure and change
Journal of Urban Economics
|November 1, 1994
Summary
The Los Angeles region exhibited a shift towards polycentric development in the 1970s, with both employment and population becoming more dispersed. This study confirms a polycentric pattern, moving beyond a single downtown center.
Area of Science:
- Urban Geography
- Spatial Economics
- Regional Science
Background:
- Urban development models traditionally focused on monocentric structures.
- The Los Angeles region's growth patterns require nuanced spatial analysis.
- Understanding urban spatial dynamics is crucial for planning and policy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze spatial patterns and changes in Los Angeles during the 1970s.
- To estimate monocentric and polycentric density functions for employment and population.
- To determine the degree of polycentricity in the Los Angeles region's development.
Main Methods:
- Estimation of monocentric and polycentric density functions.
- Statistical comparison of monocentric versus polycentric models.
- Analysis of employment and population distribution shifts.
Main Results:
- Downtown Los Angeles identified as a monocentric center and a strong polycentric node.
- Polycentric models provided a statistically superior fit compared to monocentric models.
- Evidence of a shift in employment distribution towards a more polycentric pattern was observed.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms the existence of polycentricity in the Los Angeles region.
- Employment and population distribution increasingly followed a polycentric pattern during the 1970s.
- Both employment and population became more dispersed across the region during the study period.