Location Choice Research Articles

Mobility Responses to Special Tax Regimes for the Super-Rich: Evidence from Switzerland

Abstract We use a novel rich-list dataset to estimate the sensitivity of the location choice of super-rich foreigners to a special tax regime, under which wealthy foreigners are taxed based on their living expenses, rather than their true income and wealth. We are the first to show that when some Swiss cantons repealed this controversial policy, their stock of super-rich foreigners dropped by 43% as a consequence. We find no response for the Swiss super-rich, who were unaffected by the policy change. The implied wealth and income tax mobility elasticities range between 28.4–32.2 and 1.4–1.5, respectively.

Sentiments and Migration Intentions in the Western Balkans: Examining the Paradox

ABSTRACT To understand the phenomenon of mgration from the Western Balkans, this paper analyzes the determinants of future migration intentions. Our investigation initially revealed an unexpected relationship between respondent sentiments and their intentions to migrate. To investigate further, an eclectic model was developed incorporating the determinants favored by both the location choice and network approaches. The findings are generally consistent with a priori expectations: a respondents level of satisfaction with their household’s and country’s current and future situation had a significant impact on migration intentions.

Market-level tenant default risk on residential REIT operational efficiency

ABSTRACT Selecting which geographical markets a REIT serves is an important managerial decision that is expected to significantly impact firm performance. This paper investigates whether holding properties in areas with greater incidence of evictions impacts REIT operational efficiency. Using a comprehensive database of eviction lawsuits in the United States in combination with a time-series of residential REIT portfolio holdings, we construct REIT-year eviction exposure scores to analyse whether more exposure to areas with high aggregate eviction rates is a risk factor affecting REIT efficiency. We posit that market-level tenant default risk captures a locational risk dimension that should be considered in REIT portfolio management. Our results show that REITs with more exposure to markets with high tenant default risk observe higher operational inefficiencies after controlling for relevant firm characteristics and local market factors. These results are robust to multiple model specifications that control for potential endogeneity and omitted variable biases. Our findings have significant implications for REIT managers and investors, suggesting that the choice of property locations should consider aggregate tenant default risk as a determinant factor in residential REIT performance.

Two methods to analyze radial diffusion ensembles: The perils of space- and time-dependent diffusion

Particle dynamics in Earth's outer radiation belt can be modeled using a diffusion framework, where large-scale electron movements are captured by a diffusion equation across a single adiabatic invariant, L*(L). While ensemble models are promoted to represent physical uncertainty, as yet there is no validated method to analyze radiation belt ensembles. Comparisons are complicated by the domain dependent diffusion, since diffusion coefficient DLL is dependent on L. We derive two tools to analyze ensemble members: time to monotonicity tm and mass/energy moment quantities N,E. We find that the Jacobian (1/L2) is necessary for radiation belt error metrics. Components of ∂E/∂t are explicitly calculated to compare the effects of outer and inner boundary conditions, and loss, on the ongoing diffusion. Using tm, N, and E, we find that: (a) different physically motivated choices of outer boundary condition and location result in different final states and different rates of evolution; (b) the gradients of the particle distribution affect evolution more significantly than DLL; (c) the enhancement location, and the amount of initial background particles, are both significant factors determining system evolution; (d) loss from pitch-angle scattering is generally dominant; it mitigates but does not remove the influence of both initial conditions and outer boundary settings, which are due to the L-dependence of DLL. We anticipate that this study will promote renewed focus on the distribution gradients, on the location and nature of the outer boundary in radiation belt modeling, and provide a foundation for systematic ensemble modeling.

What’s the risk? It depends. Entrepreneurs’ and employees’ perceptions of domestic city-level institutional risk

With a focus on entrepreneurs' decisions related to domestic location choices, this study draws from the international business institutional risk literature to evaluate city-level risk perceptions while accounting for individual-level political views. Specifically, we surveyed entrepreneurs and prospective employees in an effort to evaluate how important 1) safety risk, 2) political risk, and 3) social risk are when considering where to live, work, and start businesses. This process also included a comparison to ease of doing business, a previously studied driver of investment decisions. To identify low (and high) risk domestic investment locations, we had participants rate 25 large U.S. cities on the risk factors. Our findings indicate that entrepreneurs and prospective employees care about the city-level institutional risk factors. However, the focus and perceptions of entrepreneurs and prospective employees are greatly influenced by political views, perceptions do not always mirror objective data, and the two groups weight risk differently. The key insight of our study is that, in order to access and maintain valuable human capital, entrepreneurs should begin considering employees' perceptions related to city-level institutional risk. Importantly, these perceptions are biased by factors such as one's political views. Likewise, to attract business investment, city leaders should consider these risk perceptions.

Optimal environmental regulation and firms’ location choice under yield uncertainty

Optimal environmental regulation and firms’ location choice under yield uncertainty

How Dobbs May Influence the Geographic Distribution of Medical Trainees in the United States.

Third- and fourth-year U.S. medical students applying to residency were surveyed between August 6 and October 22, 2022, to assess the impact of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (Dobbs) on medical student residency application location choices. Across all medical specialties, most respondents were unlikely or very unlikely to apply to one or more residency programs located in a state with abortion restrictions (57.9%) and were considering changes in state abortion access when choosing the location of residencies to apply to (77.0%). Respondents in states with no abortion restrictions were less likely to apply to a program in a state with abortion restrictions (2 [1, 3] p < .001). The Dobbs decision significantly impacts residency application decisions for medical students in all specialties. Students are choosing to avoid or target states with restrictive abortion legislation based on their personal views.

Do affluent neighbourhoods pay more for transit access? Exploring the capitalization of employment accessibility within different housing submarkets in Vancouver

Decades of research indicate that accessibility plays a fundamental role in the urban systems of cities by influencing land markets and household location choices. Accessibility is also often positioned as a policy tool in enhancing the well-being of disadvantaged population groups. Considered together, recent research into transportation equity underscores the need to critically investigate the distribution of accessibility with their affordability impacts. To better understand this dynamic, this research assesses variability in the relationship between employment access and house prices within different neighbourhood types in Metro Vancouver. We first calculate network accessibility to employment opportunities. Next, to integrate equity, we use sociodemographic indicators from census data to establish a typology of four neighbourhoods: Affluent, Stable Middle-class, At-Risk Middle-class and Economically-disadvantaged. Finally, using real estate data, we employ spatial econometric models to estimate differences in the capitalization of accessibility in residential property prices across these neighbourhood types. Results suggest that the value of transit access does differ by neighbourhood type in Metro Vancouver. While more affluent neighbourhoods exhibit the highest marginal willingness to pay for accessibility, predicted prices are highest in disadvantaged neighbourhoods due to their higher absolute levels of access. The research offers new insight into how property price effects vary according to different accessibility and sociodemographic contexts, and highlights important implications for both policy and future research.

The border in common: The Janus-faced place attachment of cross-border regions

For several decades, cross-border areas have been the setting for the successive deployment of various cross-border cooperation and integration mechanisms. These mechanisms aim primarily to facilitate mobility and interaction between actors through cross-border cooperation projects designed to create institutional cross-border areas. The current article takes an approach centred on attachment to places with the aim of determining whether cross-border areas make sense for their inhabitants. The analyses are based on a cross-sectional survey of 3,200 inhabitants of three institutional cross-border areas: Greater Geneva, the Basque Eurocity and the Eurometropolis of Lille Kortrijk Tournai. The methodology introduces into the field of border studies the technique of structural equation models for the measurement of place attachment using different explanatory variables. Several original results are found. First, place attachment is composed of both the sense of belonging to a country and the residential location of the members ego’s (the respondent) personal network. Second, two notable forms of attachment have an ambivalent relationship within the institutional cross-border areas: attachment to the border region of residence and attachment to the neighbouring border region. Specifically, the estimated attachment to the neighbouring border region favours the declared attachment to the institutional cross-border area. Subsequently, the estimated attachment to either border region also helps explain the choice of location for regular activities. Finally, the reported attachment to the institutional cross-border area is dependent on the individual’s social position. These results open up new perspectives on European integration policies that could rely more strongly on attachment to strengthen social cohesion in institutional cross-border areas.

Wind Power Plant Location Selection with Fuzzy Logic and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making methods, especially Fuzzy Weight by Envelope and Slope (F-WENSLO) and Fuzzy Ranking Alternatives with Weights of Criterion (F-RAWEC) for evaluating the potential locations for wind power plants. The study's objective is to provide a solid framework for deciding which locations are most suitable for wind energy projects, taking into account various criteria and expert opinion. The study includes the evaluation of five potential places including Gürün, Kangal, Divriği, Ulaş and Zara in Sivas province of Turkey. The evaluation criteria include wind speed and direction, altitude, land use, environmental impacts, infrastructure proximity, social acceptance, economic costs, security and risk factors, climatic conditions and legal and permit requirements. Scores from experts from various fields and weights of criteria were determined. The analysis revealed that Ulaş and Kangal got the highest point for the wind power plant installation. As Ulaş gets the highest point due to favorable wind conditions, favorable altitude and advantageous land use; Kangal stood out as a strong candidate because of its acceptable wind speed, positive social acceptance and low economic costs. The study highlights the importance of integrating multiple criteria and expert assessments in the decision-making process. The findings suggest that fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making methods can be effectively supportive of wind power plant site selection. The study provides valuable information for project managers and policy makers, emphasizing the importance of criteria such as security in the choice of location, legal requirements and social acceptance. Future research may expand these findings to examine the integration of additional criteria, alternative locations, and other multi-criteria decision-making techniques.

Exploring gaps in residential and parking location choice models for autonomous vehicles: a proposed evaluation framework

ABSTRACT The advent of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is poised to transform urban landscapes, notably by altering perceptions of travel time value, reshaping parking structures, and introducing additional travel demand through empty-cruising and self-parking capabilities. These changes are anticipated to influence both residential and parking location choices. This study delves into the complexities of these decisions by integrating insights from 28 modelling studies on residential and/or parking location choices in the context of AVs and by proposing an evaluation framework for future modelling efforts. A critical gap identified is the oversight of empty-cruising and parking costs in the context of residential relocation choice for owners of privately-owned AVs. Furthermore, no study has adopted a joint-choice modelling approach for residential and parking location choices. By offering guidelines for the incorporation of these elements, this study contributes to the development of a holistic residential and parking location choice model with AVs, thus providing a valuable roadmap for future research in urban planning and transportation economics.

Effects of Citizenship Status on International Medical Graduate Specialty Choice and Practice Location.

The number of both US citizen and noncitizen international medical graduates (IMGs) practicing in the United States has grown substantially over the last two decades, but little is known about how these groups differ in clinical specialty and practice location. To evaluate the effects of citizenship status on IMG specialty choice (primary care vs nonprimary care) and practice location (rural and health professional shortage areas [HPSAs]). To analyze the retrospective, cross sectional data between 2010 and 2019, we estimated a series of multivariate logistic regressions with year fixed effects after assessing trends in new physician specialty choice and practice location. Survey of Residents Completing Training in New York, the largest publicly available annual survey of graduating residents and fellows in the US. 15,133 new physicians who accepted a job offer in our study period, including 8,177 US medical graduates (USMGs), 2,753 US citizen IMGs, 1,057 permanent resident IMGs, and 3,146 noncitizen non-permanent resident (NCNP) IMGs. IMG and Citizenship status. Whether a new physician chose to practice primary care; whether a new primary care physician chose to work in a rural area; whether a new primary care physician chose to work in a HPSA. Compared to 2010, there were 20% fewer NCNP IMGs entering primary care in 2019. Our logistic analysis found that US citizen IMGs were five times, permanent resident IMGs seven times, and NCNP IMGs nine times more likely to enter primary care compared to USMGs. Among new primary care physicians, NCNP IMGs were more likely to work in a rural area compared to USMGs while US citizen IMGs and permanent resident IMGs acted similarly to USMGs. NCNP IMGs were five times more likely to work in a HPSA while US citizen IMGs and permanent resident IMGs were less likely, compared to USMGs. There was a declining proportion of NCNP IMGs entering primary care; citizenship status affected IMGs' specialty and practice location choices with NCNP IMGs more likely to choose primary care and work in rural areas and HPSAs.

Graffiti Writers Choose Locations That Optimize Exposure

We investigate the spatial decision-making of graffiti writers when selecting target locations, examining how street segment characteristics influence exposure. Extending the rational choice perspective to expressive offending, we collected data through Systematic Social Observation in Ghent’s city center in November 2017, covering 12,655 graffiti instances across 2,233 street segments. The SSO involved counting graffiti items and public facilities likely to attract crowds, and measuring street network centrality. Conditional logit models assessed the impact of these characteristics on graffiti location choices. Results show that street network centrality and the presence of bars, night shops, residential units, and schools significantly increased graffiti writers’ preferences. Our findings suggest that graffiti writers aim to maximize exposure, highlighting the rational choice perspective’s relevance for expressive offending.

Is home where the heart is? Investigating the relationship between hometown and entrepreneurship

ABSTRACT The importance of home and hometown for entrepreneurs has significant implications for entrepreneurial identities, venture success, and broader contextual dynamics. Traditionally, the concept of home in entrepreneurship literature is viewed instrumentally, largely focusing on the unit of dwelling (i.e. premises/house/apartment), the implications of location choices, and their effects on performance. We employ a mobilities lens, broadening the concept of home to the city/town scale of ‘hometown’, offering a more holistic understanding of what it means for entrepreneurs from various origins and returns. Our qualitative case study in Norwich, UK, provides nuanced theoretical advancements into understanding home beyond materiality and mere location, highlighting how this is inextricably linked to dynamic renewal within peripheral urban places and different migration pathways (i.e. local, migrant, returnee). Our contributions are threefold: 1) we reveal that varying degrees of localness complicate the local versus non-local binary, impacting entrepreneurial dynamics; 2) our relational model of hometown entrepreneurship challenges the rigid leave-learn-return narrative, demonstrating return migration as a complex detach-experience-revalue socio-cultural reconnection which feeds into the local entrepreneurial ecosystem; 3) exploring the interactions of diverse actors in peripheral urban hometowns provides insights into regional development moving us beyond instrumental views in existing literature.

A Study on Metallurgical Artifacts Excavated from Luojiaba Site H235 in the Eastern Sichuan Region during the Eastern Han Dynasty

Currently, research remains limited on ironworking workshops in China and even throughout East Asia. The discovery of Luojiaba Site H235 in 2021 provides significant new material on this issue. This paper comprehensively organized the metallurgical artifacts and employed technological methods such as XRF and SEM-EDS to analyze the slag and hammerscale excavated from Luojiaba Site H235. First, the chemical composition and microstructural phases of the slag were analyzed, with an examination of the hammerscale. Second, the processes leading to the formation of slag and hammerscale are discussed. Third, based on the scale of the site, the chemical composition, and the characteristic shapes of the slag, combined with Serneels’ theoretical framework for quantitative analysis of forging slag, the slag unearthed from Luojiaba Site H235 was tentatively categorized as forging slag. This suggests that the workshop primarily produced or repaired iron objects through forging. Finally, considering the furnace shapes observed at contemporary sites and discussions on the potential sources of iron materials at the Luojiaba site, speculations are made regarding the furnace structure at the Luojiaba site and the possible origin of its iron materials. Unlike ironworking workshops at other contemporary sites, the location of the forging workshop at Luojiaba Site H235 presents a distinctly different choice, situated within a village or town during the Eastern Han Dynasty. This choice of location may reflect a phenomenon closer to consumer proximity. Therefore, analyzing metallurgical artifacts unearthed from Luojiaba contributes to understanding the operation of ironworking workshops and the distribution of resources in village-level settlements in the eastern Sichuan region during the Eastern Han Dynasty.

The impact of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy on mental health outcomes and life in breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy(ICBT) improves the impact of breast cancer through online platforms, modular learning, goal setting, relaxation exercises, and other techniques. Compared to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), ICBT offers advantages such as the convenience of flexible time and location choices and reduced manpower requirements. In recent years, research exploring the impact of ICBT on breast cancer patients has been increasing, with conflicting results across different studies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to comprehensively examine the impact of ICBT on the psychological health and quality of life of breast cancer patients through a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched ten databases in both English and Chinese, with the search period extending from the inception of the databases to December 30, 2023. Literature screening, bias risk assessment, data extraction, and evidence level evaluation were independently conducted by two researchers. All the data were analyzed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 17.0 software. A total of 2079 breast cancer patients were included in this study, of which 1171 patients received ICBT treatment. The results show that ICBT can reduce anxiety [SMD=-0.19, 95%CI (-0.37, -0.01), P=0.0008] and depression [SMD=-0.20, 95%CI (-0.37, -0.02), P=0.001], alleviate fatigue [SMD=-0.34, 95%CI (-0.67, -0.01), P=0.04], and improve quality of life [SMD=0.20, 95% CI (0.03, 0.38), P=0.02] in breast cancer patients. However, the intervention effects of ICBT on insomnia [SMD=-0.44, 95%CI (-0.93, 0.06), P=0.08] and sleep quality [SMD=-0.14, 95%CI (-0.30, 0.01), P=0.06] in breast cancer patients are not significant. The subgroup analysis showed that when the intervention period is longer than 8 weeks, the number of intervention modules exceeds 6, and a waitlist control group is included, there is a significant effect on reducing patients' anxiety and depression. However, the method of guidance and whether the intervention period exceeds 12 weeks are not related. ICBT can alleviate anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients, with the intervention effects being independent of the guidance method. Significant results were obtained when the intervention period was >8 weeks and the number of modules was >6. ICBT can reduce fatigue and improve quality of life in breast cancer patients, but its impact on sleep quality was not significant. More high-quality research is needed in the future. PROSPERO, identifier CRD42024494744.

Deep mapping Uncertain Historical Sources

This article navigates through the challenge of preserving and presenting uncertainties in digital maps, which are used to reconstruct practical knowledge in early modern artists’ businesses. It introduces a novel methodology—deep mapping—as a multi-layered spatial visualization within the Geographical Information Systems (GIS). This method adeptly facilitates the processing and visualization of complex art historical data, offering a nuanced approach that addresses the dual need of managing large-scale spatial analysis and maintaining the precision requisite in scholarly work. To operationalize the concept of deep mapping in knowledge production, this research has collected and integrated location-related descriptions of early modern addresses from various sources, translating them into geo-referenced areas and visualizing them on historical maps with varying levels of uncertainties. Applying deep mapping to visualize painters’ distribution patterns in seventeenth-century Amsterdam as an example, this article discusses two ways of presenting uncertainties in digital maps to facilitate historical observation. It shows that uncertainty is most effectively presented as fuzzy heat maps in the background to accentuate painters’ choices of locations for their painting businesses. The deep maps demonstrate that painters in early seventeenth-century Amsterdam pragmatically practiced their business knowledge by making clustering decisions following market conditions.

Perancangan Sriwijaya Freshwater Aquarium Safari

The Design of Sriwijaya Freshwater Aquarium is a way to introduce freshwater aquatic biota, educate the public, and a destination in Palembang. This design expects to be able to respond to land conditions and produce an optimal design to persuade tourists. Design data were prepared by using observation, interviews, and literature study methods. The space program in this design includes main facilities (destinations), management buildings, supporting facilities and utilities. A special Space Study (SRK) is an analysis form of main facilities, and some utilities need. While the others used related sources for the type of space needed. The location choices is influenced by transportation and proximity to city landmarks and tourist destinations. The building is a concept of Tangible Metaphor with develop wave, zigzag, arch, and vortex elements as the shape of the main and supporting buildings. Through the analysis, the design of Sriwijaya Freshwater Aquarium Safari in Palembang can respond to land conditions by utilizing a strategic location, producing an optimal design by processing the character of the site and building shape. This could be an idea for supporting education about freshwater aquatic biota, and a new destination to persuade tourists to visit Palembang.

Economic openness, physical infrastructure, marketization, public governance, and MNE location strategy: An institution-based view of state mechanism

Drawing from the institution-based view of Mike W. Peng and related scholarship in economics, international business, and public administration, this study seeks to explore: what formal institutional factors in a host country drive multinational enterprises’ location choice by way of greenfield foreign direct investment? To answer this question, this study offers a state mechanism perspective in an emerging economy context, thus underscoring that the host country’s formal institutions, such as economic openness and good governance, are key determinants. Our proposed model reasons that countries with improved economic regulations, superior physical infrastructure provisions, and transparent and effective public governance systems, combined with the marketization of public goods and services, are very attractive for multinational ventures. In so doing, institutional transformation and economic achievements pertaining to aspirant economies like China are discussed. Finally, this study concludes with several practical implications. The novelty of this study is to design a state mechanism model and hypothesize key national and subnational-level formal institutional factors that strikingly influence multinational firms’ location strategy by explaining the host country’s attractiveness for foreign direct investment.

A novel data-driven approach for customizing destination choice set: A case study in the Netherlands

Modeling the destination choice has been of great interest for travel behavior community as well as policymakers in understanding the demand for land use and transportation infrastructures at aggregate and disaggregate levels and possibly devising policies to balance the demand and supplies. One of the challenges underlying predictions of location choice is the large choice set. While traditionally many methods had been devised to limit the choice set size either on a rather ad hoc basis or based on space–time prism by removing the locations out of reach of the subjects, the current study takes a substantially different approach and proposes a data-driven method to customize the generation of the choice set. The proposition is that observing the mobility patterns of citizens for multiple weeks would enable us to limit the choice set, depending on how far the subjects travel (beyond or within the distance they travel for their most frequent activities) to conduct their various activities. More precisely, using longitudinal trajectory data, we first classify people into two subgroups: returners and explorers, based on the size of the area (around their k most visited locations: k-radius of gyration) they move during the observation period. The destination choice set for four types of activities is then customized for returners (and explorers) and is used in a sequence of decisions represented by decision trees for the prediction of their destinations. The models for the whole sample and each subgroup separately are compared. The results suggest that the accuracy of destination prediction improves substantially for all four selected activity types, especially for the returners whose choice sets are formed based on their radius of gyration.