Beyond average population density: Measuring sprawl with density-allocation indicators

Average population density has been a traditional urban sprawl indicator, but it is insufficient to encapsulate its detrimental impacts. We demonstrate that cities of identical average may be subject very different levels car dependency, CO2 emissions and public budget deficits. To capture this, we shed light into the properties two “density-allocation” indicators: percentage land in which falls below predetermined threshold value, fraction living such areas. Using unique data, measure these indicators more than 1100 areas 29 OECD countries at three time points: 1990, 2000 2014. identify four patterns for coevolution indicators. The results show densification cores concurs with rapid suburbanization many cities. perform intertemporal cross-city cross-country analyses discuss multiple policy implications emerging from them.