Is bigger better? Metropolitan area population, access, activity participation, and subjective well-being
Eric A. Morris
Clemson University
Andrew Mondschein
University of Virginia
Evelyn Blumenberg
University of California at Los Angeles
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.2018.934
Keywords: Access, City Population Size, Activity Patterns, Subjective Well-Being
Abstract
Researchers have posited that larger, denser metropolitan areas have important consumption advantages. We examine this using Cragg two-part hurdle and ordinary least square (OLS) regression models employing data from the American Time Use Survey. We test whether: 1) large metropolitan area residents participate in more out-of-home activities because these activities are more plentiful, richer, and/or easier to access, 2) large metropolitan areas have lower travel times because of higher densities, and 3) activities in larger metropolitan areas have more positive associations with subjective well-being than those in smaller places. We reject all three hypotheses. Metropolitan area population size is largely unrelated to time spent outside the home, excluding travel. Large-metropolitan-area residents participate in more arts and entertainment activities and eat and drink out more often, but they socialize, volunteer, and care for others outside the home less. Larger metropolitan areas are associated with dramatically more travel time. We find no evidence that large metropolitan area activities contribute any more or less to life satisfaction or affect than activities in smaller places. We also find that life satisfaction does not covary with metropolitan area size. In sum, living in a large metropolitan area may primarily involve a tradeoff of (travel) time for money (higher wages), with little net change in welfare.Author Biographies
Eric A. Morris, Clemson University
Eric A. Morris is Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning at Clemson University.Andrew Mondschein, University of Virginia
Andrw Mondschein is Assistant Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning at the University of Virginia.Evelyn Blumenberg, University of California at Los Angeles
Evelyn Blumenberg is Professor of Urban Planning in the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.References
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