The Economics of Urban Density

Gilles Duranton and Diego Puga

No 27215, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Urban density boosts productivity and innovation, improves access to goods and services, reduces typical travel distances, encourages energy-efficient construction and transport, and facilitates sharing scarce amenities. However, density is also synonymous with crowding, makes living and moving in cities more costly, and concentrates exposure to pollution and disease. We explore the appropriate measurement of density and describe how it is both a cause and a consequence of the evolution of cities. We then discuss whether and how policy should target density and why the trade-off between its pros and cons is unhappily resolved by market and political forces.

JEL-codes: R12 R31 R32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (86)

Published as Gilles Duranton & Diego Puga, 2020. "The Economics of Urban Density," Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol 34(3), pages 3-26.

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Economics of Urban Density (2020)
Working Paper: The Economics of Urban Density (2020)
Working Paper: The Economics of Urban Density (2020)
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