During the last decades the spatial pattern of the Amsterdam region has changed. The city council of Amsterdam has described this transformation process from a ‘Autonomic city’ through ‘Centrum city’ to a ‘Polycentric urban region’ nowadays. In scientific research a lot of attention has been given to this spatial change. Urban Studies (2001) and European Planning Studies (1998) have even published special issues about the polycentric city. Many research projects have discussed already the positive effects of polycentric structures for economic opportunities. This research project focuses on the effects of this (changing) urban form for individual members of households.

PhD project started in September 2004. First publication in january 2006:
Grünfeld, J. (2006) Spatial patterns of the creative class in the polycentric urban region IN: Creativity and Diversity. L. Deben and M. Bontje. Amsterdam, Het Spinhuis

Several years ago the University of Amsterdam has set up the ‘social participation monitor’ together with the municipality of Amsterdam. This monitor showed the importance of information about social phenomena at a very low spatial level. Recently the regional monitor has been developed which gives researchers and policymakers detailed information about the regional dynamics at a low spatial scale.

The research project uses a quantitative approach. The research use several existing large data files such as the time use research and mobility studies from Dutch Statistics as well as survey conducted by the municipalities in the Amsterdam region. The data from the regional monitor plays an important role in defining the research area.

The regional level has become more and more important for the organisation of the daily activity pattern. Many different (lifestyle) groups have a diverse settlement and activity pattern. The relation between the place where people live and the locations they use in their daily life has diminished. For instance, the creative class is strongly concentrated in the region of Amsterdam but is not only living in the city of Amsterdam. An other important result is that under influence of especially emancipation processes the average travel time has increased. People are able and accept more travel time to visit the amenities they like in the whole region.

AMIDSt (University of Amsterdam)
Joram Grünfeld (PhD-researcher), tel. +31 20 5254064

01/01/2006

Joram Grünfeld

research

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment

Working patterns