Task Specialization in U.S. Cities from 1880-2000 / Guy Michaels, Ferdinand Rauch, Stephen J. Redding.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Michaels, Guy.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Rauch, Ferdinand.

Redding, Stephen J.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w18715.

NBER working paper series no. w18715

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2013.

Summary:

We develop a new methodology for quantifying the tasks undertaken within occupations using over 3,000 verbs from more than 12,000 occupational descriptions in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOTs). Using micro-data from the United States from 1880-2000, we find an increase in the employment share of interactive occupations within sectors over time that is larger in metro areas than non-metro areas. We interpret these findings using a model in which reductions in transport and communication costs induce urban areas to specialize according to their comparative advantage in interactive tasks. We presenting suggestive evidence relating increases in employment in interactive occupations to improvements in transport and communication technologies. Our findings highlight a change in the nature of agglomeration over time towards an increased emphasis on human interaction.

Notes:

Print version record

January 2013.