This paper applies geographical information system (GIS) techniques and a piece-wise, non-linear model-spline functions—to analyse empirically the relationship between the jobs-housing ratio and urban commuting patterns in terms of vehicle miles travelled (VMT) and trip length. A dynamic buffering process in GIS is developed to measure the jobs-housing ratio within floating catchment areas of a 5-7 mile (8.05-11.27 km) radius as opposed to pre-defined and arbitrary jurisdictional boundaries. This study found a non-linear relationship between the jobs-housing ratio and VMT and trip length in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. Only when the jobs-housing ratio is less than 1.2 or larger than 2.8 do VMT vary noticeably as the jobs-housing ratio changes. Marginal changes in VMT are small when the jobs-housing ratio is between 1.2 and 2.8. Since most areas in the study region have a job-household ratio between 1.2 and 2.8, any changes in the jobs-housing ratio will have little impact on VMT. Consequently, hardly any land use policy changes could affect the jobs-housing ratio enough to produce a significant change in VMT per capita, and jobs-housing policy will have limited impact on VMT at the regional level.

Zhong-Ren Peng

Urban Studies

Urban Studies was first published in 1964 to provide an international forum of social and economic contributions to the fields of urban and regional planning. Since then, the Journal has expanded to encompass the increasing range of disciplines and approaches that have been brought to bear on urban and regional problems. Contents include original articles, notes and comments, and a comprehensive book review section. Regular contributions are drawn from the fields of economics, planning, political science, statistics, geography, sociology, population studies and public administration.

Urban Studies was first published in 1964 to provide an international forum for social and economic contributions to the fields of urban and regional planning. Since then, the journal has expanded its scope to include a growing range of disciplines and approaches applied to urban and regional issues. The contents include original articles, notes and comments, and a comprehensive book review section. Regular contributions come from the fields of economics, planning, political science, statistics, geography, sociology, population studies, and public administration.

《Urban Studies》创刊于1964年，旨在为城市和区域规划领域提供一个国际性的社会和经济贡献论坛。自那时起，期刊的范围不断扩大，涵盖了越来越多的学科和方法，这些学科和方法被应用于城市和区域问题的研究。期刊内容包括原创文章、评论和意见，以及全面的书评部分。定期投稿的领域包括经济学、规划、政治学、统计学、地理学、社会学、人口研究和公共管理。

Category	Quartile
经济学	1
经济学, 环境研究	2
经济学, 城市研究	2

The Jobs-Housing Balance and Urban Commuting

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
URBAN STUDIES	1