3 Urban Land, Housing, and Neighborhoods Free Online FlashCards

What are agglomeration economies?

Agglomeration economies are benefits that arise when firms and workers locate near one another, such as knowledge exchange, specialized services, and shared infrastructure.

How does access affect competition for urban land?

Households and firms bid for sites based on their value of access to jobs, customers, transportation, and amenities. Some of that access value is reflected in land rent.

How can land-use rules shape housing and travel?

Zoning, building codes, infrastructure, and public investment shape what can be built and where. Allowing apartments near transit can support more homes and shorter trips.

What factors influence housing prices?

Housing prices depend on location, size, condition, access, and the balance of supply and demand.

What is the common housing affordability threshold?

A common measure considers housing affordable when a household spends no more than 30 percent of its income on housing.

Name three approaches that can address housing affordability.

Vouchers and rental assistance help eligible households pay; public or subsidized housing offers homes below market rents; land-use reforms and public investment can enable more construction.

What is residential segregation, and what can shape it?

Residential segregation is the uneven separation of social groups across neighborhoods. It can reflect income, housing prices, discrimination, and public policies, shaping access to housing, schools, services, and other resources.

How can dense labor markets benefit workers and employers?

Proximity can improve job matching: employers can find workers more easily, and workers can find jobs in dense labor markets.

What costs can balance the benefits of urban agglomeration?

Agglomeration’s advantages are balanced by costs such as congestion, pollution, and high land prices.

What tradeoff may households face in a monocentric city?

In a monocentric model, most jobs are downtown. Households farther away may pay less for land but face higher commuting costs.

How does land value differ in a polycentric city?

In a polycentric city, land values depend on access to several employment centers rather than distance from only one center.

What can happen when housing demand grows faster than supply?

When demand grows faster than housing supply, especially where construction is difficult or slow, rents and home prices may rise and make it harder for lower-income households to stay nearby.