An integrated approach to identification of at municipal subcentres: the analysis for the Metropolitan Region of Barcelona

Abstract

This paper seeks to explore different ways to identify and validate metropolitan sub centres employment. We propose an integrated method of identification, which includes a second stage of validation by three aspects: the explanation of the density function of localized workers, the indicators of worker mobility and the explanation of real estate values. Using information from the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, we tested 10 methods for identifying sub centres, considering also two versions of worker density, presenting a new way to obtain the density of workers, which is the standard vector constructed with the density of incoming workers and resident workers. The integrated approach identifies and validates a set of 15 municipalities that act as sub-metropolitan, explaining the density, spatial mobility and training in property values.