Spatial Polarization

TitleSpatial Polarization
Publication TypeWorking Paper
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsCerina, F, Dienesch, E, Moro, A, Rendall, M
Number2019-09
ISBN Number978 88 68512 347
KeywordsCity Sizes, Employment Polarization, Spatial Sorting
Abstract

We document the emergence of spatial polarization in the U.S. during the 1980- 2008 period. This phenomenon is characterized by stronger employment polarization in larger cities, both at the occupational and the worker level. We quantitatively evaluate the role of technology in generating these patterns by constructing and calibrating a spatial equilibrium model. We find that faster skill- biased technological change in larger cities can account for a substantial fraction of spatial polarization in the U.S. Counterfactual exercises suggest that the differential increase in the share of low-skilled workers across city size is due mainly to the large demand by high-skilled workers for low-skilled services and to a smaller extent to the higher complementarity between low- and high-skilled workers in production relative to middle-skilled workers.

Citation Key7221
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