Organization of Land Surrounding Airports: The Case of the Aerotropolis

This paper analyzes the conditions driving the organization of the territory near airports by studying the distribution of economic activities. We consider how commercial firms, service operators, and consumers compete for land. The theoretical setting provides a grid of possible spatial structures in accordance with the degree of competition among agents. An aerotropolis (airport city) appears when the spatial sequence services area - commercial area - residential area arises as the land equilibrium outcome. Using data on the distribution of establishments in the United States (US), we analyze the existence and determinants of aeropolitan configurations. Estimations performed with parametric methods detect some interesting dynamic patterns affecting the density and distribution of activities around selected US airports.