Population Distribution Over Time: How Spatial Distance Matters

Epifani, Ilenia; Nicolini, Rosella

doi:10.2139/ssrn.2337525

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Population Distribution Over Time: How Spatial Distance Matters

33 Pages Posted: 15 Oct 2013 Last revised: 18 Mar 2014

See all articles by Ilenia Epifani

Ilenia Epifani

Polytechnic University of Milan - Department of Mathematics

Rosella Nicolini

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date Written: March 18, 2014

Abstract

This study aims at assessing the evolution of the importance of spatial distance in citizens' location choices across time. We focus on the case of population distribution in Massachusetts. We handle a database including data for the years 1880-1890 and 1930-2010. By adopting a Bayesian strategy, we are able to state that Boston reinforced its attractiveness up to the 1960s, but since then Boston's attractiveness has no longer represented the unique determinant of population distribution. Referring to selected historical evidence, we put forward a few possible interpretations to endorse our results.

Keywords: Bayesian inference, Distance, Ethnic composition, Population distribution, Random frailties

JEL Classification: C11, N92, R19

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Epifani, Ilenia and Nicolini, Rosella, Population Distribution Over Time: How Spatial Distance Matters (March 18, 2014). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2337525 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2337525