Metro-induced gentrification: A 17-year experience in Taipei: Fid-Bau Portal

Metro-induced gentrification: A 17-year experience in Taipei

Lin, Jen-Jia / Chung, Jo-Ching

AbstractThe present study explores the relationship between metro systems and gentrification. Three hypotheses are proposed as follows: access to metro stations induces gentrification, metro-induced gentrification occurs in both inner and outer city areas, and metro-induced gentrification differs between the inner and outer city areas. The present study tested these hypotheses by using population migration, college graduates, increased floor area, and house price as gentrification outcomes. Panel data and traditional linear regression analyses were conducted between 1996 and 2013 in Taipei City, Taiwan. Empirical evidence generally supports the hypotheses. Particularly, metro-induced gentrification revealed by highly educated residents and real-estate development was significantly stronger in the outer city areas, whereas metro-induced gentrification revealed by house prices was significantly stronger in the inner city areas. The current results broaden the understanding on the manner in which infrastructure investments were related to gentrification in an emerging city and imply that the local government should adopt sufficient means to deal with metro-induced gentrification when upgrading public transport systems.

Highlights•Metro-induced gentrification occurred in emerging cities worldwide in the long term.•Metro-induced gentrification could happen in both inner and outer city areas but with different features.•Differences between inner and outer city areas could be diminished by elevating development densities in outer city areas.•Emerging cities are in a predicament of developing efficient transit systems and preventing gentrification.