| By: |
Talita Greyling;
Stephanié Rossouw (School of Economics, Faculty of Business and Law, Auckland University of Technology) |
| Abstract: |
The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between
population density and non-economic quality of life. Popular opinion has
generally been that population density can be seen as beneficial for economic
growth, as it allows for greater productivity, greater incomes and can be
translated into higher levels of quality of life. Recently though, growing
evidence tends to suggest the exact opposite in that increases in productivity
and incomes are not translated into better quality of life. As economic or
income variables have always played a significant role in any research,
questions regarding the relationship between population density and
non-economic quality of life has largely remained unanswered. In this light,
the paper utilises a panel data set on the eight metropolitans in South Africa
for the period 1996 to 2014 to determine the relationship between population
density and non-economic quality of life in the South African context. In the
analyses we make use of panel estimation techniques which allows us to compare
changes in this relationship over time as well as adding a spatial dimension
to the results. This paper contributes to the literature by firstly studying
the aforementioned relationship over time and secondly conducting the analyses
at a sub-national basis in a developing country. Our results show that there
is a significant and negative relationship between population density and
non-economic quality of life. Based on our findings policy measures to
encourage urbanisation should not be supported if the ultimate outcome is to
increase non-economic quality of life. |
| Keywords: |
Quality of life, Population density, Urbanisation, South Africa, Panel data analysis |
| JEL: |
O15 O18 O55 R11 R00 C01 C33 C43 |
| Date: |
2016–03 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aut:wpaper:201603&r=hap |