Commuting in multinodal urban systems: An empirical comparison of three alternative models

Commuting in multinodal urban systems;
an empirical comparison of three alternative models

Lambert van der Laan, Jacolien Vogelzang & Richard Schalke1

Erasmus Centre for Labour market Analysis - ECLA;

Erasmus University Rotterdam.

PO-Box 1738; 3000 DR Rotterdam. The Netherlands.

e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

The article analyses whether the basic monocentric model of urban structure and commuting
explains actual commuting in Europe, i.e. the Netherlands. As in the United States much
wasteful commuting is established. The basic model has a low degree of explanatory power. In
order to get more in line with actual commuting, the article elaborates two alternatives to the
basic model. Besides a deconcentrated model, a cross-traffic model is developed. Particularly
the latter is quite successful in explaining actual commuting. The article pleads for
endogenizing employment and stresses heterogeneity in labour demand and supply.

keywords:        multinodality, the Netherlands, urban models, wasteful commuting, density

function, heterogeneity.

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