Author(s)

G. Galster, R. Quercia & A. Cortes

Abstract

Do urban neighborhoods reach a threshold point beyond which they cannot sustain a decent quality of life for residents? In this study, we investigate the threshold-like effects of five key aspects that erode neighborhood quality of life: poverty rate, male labor force non-participation rate, overall adult non- employment rate, female headship rate for families with children, and secondary school drop out rate. We used a sample consisting of virtually all census tracts from U. S. metropolitan areas. The relationship between the value of numerous neighborhood indicators in 1980 and subsequent changes in each of the five dimensions of neighborhood quality of life during the 1980-1990 period was evaluated statistically using a regression model with a spline specifi

Keywords