Abstract
The debate on the nature and state of peri-urban development in Europe is dynamic. While residents and their residential preferences have long been identified as strong drivers of the process of peri-urbanisation, other influences have also been discussed, such as the supply side of the housing market or job opportunities for residents. This paper analyses the population and job growth trends in the last five decades of 230 urban areas in mainland France. The results show that the pattern of peri-urban development of all the large and medium cities of the country have strong common characteristics. In particular, the areas around cities have proven dynamic both in terms of population, as would be expected in the peri-urbanisation process described by the literature in France, but also in terms of jobs, which have been less analysed. A review of the economic literature on the determinants of firms’ location choice puts forward some of the most relevant determinants that may explain a choice of location outside central cities. This helps put in perspective the role of job opportunities in shaping peri-urbanisation in France in the recent past.
Highlights
During the 19th and 20th centuries, the growth and the concentration of population in developed countries were powered by industrialisation (Bairoch/Goertz 1986)
Peri-urbanisation is driven by population growth but by changing lifestyles and consumption patterns: over the past 50 years in Europe, the urban areas have expanded on average by 78% whereas the population has grown by only 33% (EEA 2006: 11)
Since the literature cited above points to the fact that highly qualified employees tend to be more sensitive to residential amenities, we focus on the case of metropolitan functions executives, that is those involved in intellectual, managerial, and decision-making functions tied to intellectual services, design/research, business-to-business trade, management, culture, and leisure
Summary
During the 19th and 20th centuries, the growth and the concentration of population in developed countries were. To address these questions, we analyse population and job growth trends in the last five decades in France by type of area (centres, suburbs and peri-urban belts of large and medium cities, Paris excluded1), and show that they have strong common characteristics. A review of the economic literature on the determinants of firms’ location choice puts forward some of the most relevant determinants that may explain a choice of location at the urban fringe This helps put in perspective the role of job opportunities in shaping peri-urbanisation in France in the recent past.
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