Urban travel time and residential location choice: The impacts of traffic congestion

Abstract

The rapid growth of urban transportation has led to increased pressure on transportation infrastructure in many urban areas. In this paper, we examine the relationship between urban travel time and decision-making on the spatial mobility of the labor force to optimize the labor space distribution pattern. Using Gaode map traffic congestion delay data, China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) data, and a conditional logit model, we conduct the first study to examine the relationship between travel time and residential location choice in 100 major cities in China, specifically from the perspective of traffic congestion. Our research finds that extended urban travel time significantly promotes population outflow, particularly among individuals with light family burdens, low job loyalty, and more choices. The population outflow effect formed by the extension of travel time shows the law of decreasing in line with the size of cities, with medium-sized cities experiencing the most serious inhibition effect. We also propose the concept of transportation accessibility wage bargaining and estimate the monetary compensation value to be ¥22.50 ($3.33) per day. This finding provides a quantitative reference for the design of a corresponding compensation mechanism to improve residents' willingness to stay in cities.