Fragmentation, Sprawl, and Economic Development: An Analysis of 331 Metropolitan Areas in the United States

Author: Grigoriy Ardashev

Dissertation School: University of Louisville

Abstract:

The issues of regional governance, housing sprawl, and economic development have spawned a significant volume of both theoretical and empirical scholarship. However, the exact nature of the relationship between the organization of governance in metropolitan areas and urban development is not specified and many questions remain unanswered. There is a lack of empirical and quantitative research on the issue. This dissertation examines the relationship between three variables: 1) fragmented government, 2) housing sprawl, and 3) urban development. The investigation of the possible relationships between the above mentioned variables will help explain the variation in performance and development of metropolitan areas. Some of the questions that my study seeks to answer are: does government fragmentation encourage sprawl?; does fragmentation reduce metropolitan prosperity?; and, does urban sprawl promote higher rates of economic development?

The dissertation synthesizes recent developments in urban research and seeks the new methods and ways to examine the issues of sprawl, metropolitan governance, and economic development. A number of quantitative methods will be employed in both operationalizing the variables and analyzing the relationships between them. To answer the hypothesis, sprawl and economic development are modeled as a function of government fragmentation and other controlling factors. Government fragmentation is measured by an index of fragmentation, which captures the "market share" of each unit of local government. It is calculated based on percentages of expenditures by local units of governments in the total metropolitan government spending. The index of sprawl combines several spatial measures of land use patterns. The index is calculated for residential land uses separately for each metropolitan area using GIS technology. Economic development is measured by an index of "growth without growth." This index reflects income growth in a metropolitan area relatively to population growth. The controlling variables include state economic growth, educational attainment, affluence, demographic change, racial segregation, control for the age of metropolitan area, and control for geographical location on the metropolitan area.

Issues of regionalism and growth management are on the HUD's list of priorities. My research addresses HUD's strategic goal of improving community quality of life and economic vitality. It measures housing sprawl and economic development in metropolitan communities, links these variables with the organization of regional governance, and provides empirical evidence on the best configuration of these variables for achieving desirable growth objectives. The issues that I address in my dissertation have both theoretical and practical implications. Today a number of communities are evaluating the possibilities of governmental reorganization. The lack of empirical evidence about the possible benefits or negative consequences of such reorganizations can mislead communities and hinder them in making optimal decisions. My research will provide empirical evidence and achieve a better understanding of the relationships between governance, urban geography and economic growth. The study will use recent data to inform federal problemsolving and policymaking on the issues of interaction of governance and urban development. It will allow states and local communities to formulate policies by accounting for different configurations of sprawl, fragmentation, and economic growth.

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