RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Geographic Diversity of U.S. Nonmetropolitan Growth Dynamics: A Geographically Weighted Regression Approach
JF Land Economics
JO Land Econ
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 241
OP 266
DO 10.3368/le.84.2.241
VO 84
IS 2
A1 Partridge, Mark D.
A1 Rickman, Dan S.
A1 Ali, Kamar
A1 Olfert, M. Rose
YR 2008
UL http://le.uwpress.org/content/84/2/241.abstract
AB Spatial heterogeneity is introduced as an explanation for local-area growth mechanisms, especially employment growth. As these effects are difficult to detect using conventional regression approaches, we use Geographically Weighted Regressions (GWR) for non-metropolitan U.S. counties. We test for geographic heterogeneity in the growth parameters and compare them to global regression estimates. The results indicate significant heterogeneity in the regression coefficients across the country, most notably for amenities and college graduate shares. Using GWR also exposes significant local variations that are masked by global estimates suggesting limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach to describe growth and to inform public policy. (JEL R11, R23)