A SIMULATION-MODEL OF A DECENTRALIZED METROPOLITAN-AREA WITH 2-WORKER, TRADITIONAL, AND FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS

An urban simulation model is developed in which there are multiple household types: two-worker households, traditional households, and female-headed households, and multiple employment locations: a CBD and two subcenters. Female workers are assumed to have lower wages. Labor force participation and choice of job and residential locations are endogenous. The model shows that a fairly realistic city can be represented, particularly when a random component to wages is introduced. The distribution of household types within the city is shown to be quite sensitive to relative wages of male versus female workers, to commuting costs, and to the level of CBD versus suburban wages-for example, when CBD wages fall, the proportion of female-headed households declines sharply. © 1993 Academic Press. All rights reserved.