Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Leah Platt Boustan
Author-X-Name-First: Leah Platt
Author-X-Name-Last: Boustan
Author-Email: lboustan@econ.ucla.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: UCLA and NBER
Author-Name: Robert A. Margo
Author-X-Name-First: Robert A.
Author-X-Name-Last: Margo
Author-Email: margora@bu.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: Boston University and NBER
Title:  JOB DECENTRALIZATION AND RESIDENTIAL LOCATION
Abstract: How does the spatial distribution of employment opportunities influence residential location? We revisit this classic question in urban economics by exploiting a natural experiment generated by the history of state capitals. Many state employees in capital cities work in centrally located government buildings that were constructed in the nineteenth century, while state workers elsewhere mirror the decentralization of the private sector. We compare the work and residential locations of state workers in capital and non-capital cities relative to other workers in their metropolitan areas. Our results suggest that assigning 1,000 jobs to the central city would attract approximately 250 working residents to the city. Evidence from other industries with historically-determined locations, including the postal service and defense contractors, corroborates our basic finding.
Length: 32
Creation-Date: 2008-12
Revision-Date: 
Publication-Status: forthcoming, G. Burtless and J. Pack, eds. BROOKINGS-WHARTON PAPERS ON URBAN AFFAIRS 2009
File-URL:http://www.bu.edu/econ/ied/dp/papers/dp%20177IED_Boustan_Margo_Job_Decentralization.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
File-Function: 
Number: dp-177
Classification-JEL: 
Keywords: 
Handle: RePEc:bos:iedwpr:dp-177