Freeway Revolts! The Quality of Life Effects of Highways

A-Tier
Journal: Review of Economics and Statistics
Year: 2024
Volume: 106
Issue: 5
Pages: 1268-1284

Authors (2)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Why do freeways affect spatial structure? We identify and quantify the local disamenity effects of freeways. Freeways cause slower growth in central neighborhoods (where local disamenities exceed regional accessibility benefits) compared with outlying neighborhoods (where access benefits exceed disamenities). A quantitative model calibrated to Chicago attributes one-third of the effect of freeways on central-city decline to reduced quality of life. Barrier effects are a major factor in the disamenity value of a freeway. Local disamenities from freeways, as opposed to their regional accessibility benefits, had large effects on the spatial structure of cities, suburbanization, and welfare.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:tpr:restat:v:106:y:2024:i:5:p:1268-1284
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25