A Theoretical Approach to the Relationship between Urban Structure and Commuting Distance

Abstract

IT IS COMMONLY RECOGNIZED THAT URBAN STRUCTURE HAS SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON COMMUTING BEHAVIOUR.HOWEVER, CHANGE IN COMMUTING DISTANCE DUE TO JOB DECENTRALIZATION DEPENDS ON AN ASSIGNMENT WAY OF JOB TO RESIDENCE. IN THE PRESENT PAPER, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JOB-RESIDENCE STRUCTURE AND COMMUTING DISTANCE IS DESCRIBED EXPLICITLY AND THEORETICALLY FOR THREE TYPES OF ASSIGNMENT PATTERN. CONSEQUENTLY IT IS FOUND THAT JOB DECENTRALIZATION INCREASES COMMUTING DISTANCE WHEN 'UNIFORM ASSIGNMENT' IS ASSUMED, AND THAT COMMUTING DISTANCE BASED ON 'EXPECTED ASSIGNMENT' DOES NOT DECLINE SO DRASTICALLY ACCORDING TO JOB DECENTRALIZATION AS ASSUMING 'MINISUM ASSIGNMENT.' ALSO THE DIFFERENCE IN EXCESS COMMUTING BETWEEN U.S. AND JAPAN IS TRIED TO BE EXPLAINED BY USING THIS MODEL.