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Are urbanized areas source of life satisfaction? Evidence from EU regions
Author(s) -
Lenzi Camilla,
Perucca Giovanni
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
papers in regional science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.937
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1435-5957
pISSN - 1056-8190
DOI - 10.1111/pirs.12232
Subject(s) - urbanization , geography , humanities , welfare economics , political science , economic growth , economics , art
This paper studies the relationship between urbanization and life satisfaction in European NUTS 2 regions in the period 2004–2011 based on individual level data. Results suggest that life satisfaction is greater in regions characterized by intermediate levels of urbanization. Urbanization benefits also filter down along the regional urban hierarchy and are especially positive for those individuals living in rural areas of urbanized regions. Eastern European countries depart from this average trend, and, generally, experience negative direct and indirect urbanization effects, especially in the most urbanized regions.