Spatial Equilibrium in the Dispersed City

Abstract

The standard model of residential land use in a city as treated by Mills (1973) assumes that all working and shopping opportunities are concentrated in the center of the city, the Central Business District (CBD) and that residential land is homogenous otherwise. Through this assumption, a definite orientation with respect to the center is introduced into residential land use. The effect of any other interactions over distance is overlooked. To put it bluntly, work and consumption (shopping) dominate all trip making behaviour, the interaction with other residents through social and recreational contacts is completely ignored.