Infrastructure Upgrades and Rural–Urban Connectivity: Distance Disparities in a Tri-National Frontier in the Amazon

Abstract

New infrastructure reorganizes spaces by modifying connectivity among locations. We report findings pertaining to rural–urban connectivity in the southwestern Amazon, a tri-national frontier with varying levels of infrastructure due to recent highway paving. We compare distances to nearest markets and distances to primary markets reported by community leaders. The findings show many differences, so we model distance disparities featuring variables derived from location theory. The models show that communities without road paving are more often connected to more distant markets. During the process of infrastructure upgrades, regions experience adjustments in connectivity among locations that deviate from equilibrium expectations of location theory.