https://9p7pzq3jbl.execute-api.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/ProdStage Skip to main content
Publications
Advanced Search

View metadata

dc.titleAgglomeration and Congestion in Latin America
dc.contributor.authorGómez-Lobo, Andrés
dc.contributor.authorSánchez González, Santiago
dc.contributor.authorGonzález Mejia, Vileydy
dc.contributor.authorCalatayud, Agustina
dc.contributor.orgunitTransport Division
dc.date.available2022-02-14T00:02:00
dc.date.issue2022-02-14T00:02:00
dc.description.abstractIn this paper we explore the possible impact of urban congestion on agglomeration economies for a cross-section set of cities in Latin America. We use travel time data from Tom Tom to estimate wage regressions equations controlling for city size and congestion. We use population in each city in the 19th and early 20th century as instruments for current city size (measures by population). In our baseline estimates, we find an elasticity of wages to city size of 0.05, very similar to previous research in the region. When congestion is included in the estimation, we find that agglomeration economies are reduced. This holds even after using rain-days and average yearly as an instrument for congestion. Our results imply that congestion is a drag on economic productivity. This indirect cost of congestion is considerably larger economically than the direct cost measured as the loss of valuable time for citizens.
dc.format.extent57
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0003984
dc.identifier.urlhttps://publications.iadb.org/publications/english/document/Agglomeration-and-Congestion-in-Latin-America.pdf
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherInter-American Development Bank
dc.subjectAgglomeration Economy
dc.subjectWage
dc.subjectEconomy
dc.subjectLabor Force
dc.subjectProductivity
dc.subjectLabor
dc.subjectSmall Business
dc.subject.jelcodeR41 - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion • Travel Time • Safety and Accidents • Transportation Noise
dc.subject.jelcodeR48 - Government Pricing and Policy
dc.subject.keywordsautomovil;aglomeración;congestión;economic productivity;agglomeration economies
dc.typeWorking Papers
idb.identifier.pubnumberIDB-WP-01324
idb.operationRG-E1637
Return to Publication