Urban structures, population density and municipal expenditures: An empirical study in the Czech Republic

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between the type of urban spatial structure, population density and the selected types of capital and current municipal expenditures. Seven types of urban spatial structures at the level of city blocks are defined. Different types of municipal expenditure (urban green, pavement, roadway and public lighting) are estimated by the data from 22 Czech cities and six city districts. The capital and current municipal expenditures are calculated for each urban structure per hectare and per capita. The most expensive urban structure per hectare is the urban structure of estates and high rises, which is caused by the large proportion of public space. On the other hand, single detached houses are the least costly. If the population density is taken into account and municipal expenditures are calculated per capita, the least costly urban structure is the urban block structure followed by the organic urban structure (historical centre), which is given by high population density and lower size of public space. The urban structure of single detached houses is the most costly urban structure per capita.