A Pure Theory of Metropolitan Redistribution Patterns: Modifications Upon Tiebout's Model

Abstract

Tiebout’s (1956) theory about redistribution of population and the bundle of public goods, ever since, has been a major reference for many of recent endeavors to explain spatial redistribution patterns in metropolitan areas. In this paper, based on Tiebout’s rationale and by proposing major modifications on how his hypothesis would work better, I developed a theory of metropolitan redistribution patterns that improves conceptualization of current residential patterns in metropolitan areas. The theory clarifies that households do not relocate to solely maximize their locational utility, but rather residential mobility across metropolitan areas is an outcome of continuous adjustments in consumption of housing services and location of residence over the course of households’ lifecycles. Based on this theory, the discussion section provides a monocentric conceptual model and a multi-centric GIS-based model of population redistribution patterns that to further verify the validity of the hypothesis.