Publications [#164689] of Christopher D. Timmins

Journal Articles

1. Christopher Timmins, Estimating Spatial Differences in the Brazilian Cost of Living with Household Location Choices, Journal of Development Economics, vol. 80 no. 1 (June, 2006), pp. 59--83, ISSN 03043878 [login.aspx]
   (last updated on 2009/10/26)

   Abstract:
   This paper uses a model of optimal household residential decisions to construct a comprehensive "true" spatial cost of living index with readily available Brazilian census data. We find evidence of a decreasing or U-shaped relationship (differing with education level and region) between the cost of living and urbanization, suggesting that both market disintegration and congestion play roles in raising costs. Controlling for spatial differences in the cost of living is shown to have important consequences for the determinants of poverty and (contrary to many previous results) to increase income inequality.

   Keywords:
   Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis D120, Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration O150, Other Production and Pricing Analysis R320, Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics: Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population; Neighborhood Characteristics R230