Does rail transit access affect firm dynamics? Analysis of firm births and closures in Maryland, USA

Firm birth and firm closure are two interrelated dynamics relevant to measuring economic growth, yet most studies focus on firm birth only. Public transportation infrastructure may facilitate firm birth, but it may also avert firm closure through improved accessibility that can consequently lead to...

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Main Authors: Basheer Saeed, Hiroyuki Iseki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Minnesota 2023-11-01
Series:Journal of Transport and Land Use
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.jtlu.org/index.php/jtlu/article/view/2343
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author Basheer Saeed
Hiroyuki Iseki
author_facet Basheer Saeed
Hiroyuki Iseki
author_sort Basheer Saeed
collection DOAJ
description Firm birth and firm closure are two interrelated dynamics relevant to measuring economic growth, yet most studies focus on firm birth only. Public transportation infrastructure may facilitate firm birth, but it may also avert firm closure through improved accessibility that can consequently lead to increased local density hence agglomeration economies. This study analyzes firm births and firm closures using the National Establishment Time Series (NETS) panel data from Maryland from 1991 to 2009. By examining both birth and closure patterns, this study estimates the likelihood of firm retention for areas in proximity to passenger rail stations of multiple levels of maturity, while controlling for a number of potentially confounding factors. Positive and statistically significant relationships are found between proximity to the passenger rail stations and the rates of firm births in Maryland, regardless of differences in the level of maturity of stations. From 1991 to 2009, areas within close proximity to passenger rail stations in Maryland experienced a wide range of rates of growth in firm density, depending on the year of station opening. The results suggest that well after the introduction of rail stations, areas near passenger rail stations gain belated economic benefits shown by higher likelihood of firm retention around the mature rail stations opened before 1990. In comparison, areas near the less mature stations that opened after 1990 had predominantly lower likelihood of firm retention. Planners and policymakers should be proactive in directing development near rail stations by adopting a variety of measures and policies that support or are at least consistent with transit-oriented development (TOD).
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spelling doaj.art-39fd30164ca8489ba97bee4abbb90d282023-11-30T11:16:52ZengUniversity of MinnesotaJournal of Transport and Land Use1938-78492023-11-0116110.5198/jtlu.2023.2343Does rail transit access affect firm dynamics? Analysis of firm births and closures in Maryland, USA Basheer Saeed0Hiroyuki Iseki1University of DuhokUniversity of Maryland, College ParkFirm birth and firm closure are two interrelated dynamics relevant to measuring economic growth, yet most studies focus on firm birth only. Public transportation infrastructure may facilitate firm birth, but it may also avert firm closure through improved accessibility that can consequently lead to increased local density hence agglomeration economies. This study analyzes firm births and firm closures using the National Establishment Time Series (NETS) panel data from Maryland from 1991 to 2009. By examining both birth and closure patterns, this study estimates the likelihood of firm retention for areas in proximity to passenger rail stations of multiple levels of maturity, while controlling for a number of potentially confounding factors. Positive and statistically significant relationships are found between proximity to the passenger rail stations and the rates of firm births in Maryland, regardless of differences in the level of maturity of stations. From 1991 to 2009, areas within close proximity to passenger rail stations in Maryland experienced a wide range of rates of growth in firm density, depending on the year of station opening. The results suggest that well after the introduction of rail stations, areas near passenger rail stations gain belated economic benefits shown by higher likelihood of firm retention around the mature rail stations opened before 1990. In comparison, areas near the less mature stations that opened after 1990 had predominantly lower likelihood of firm retention. Planners and policymakers should be proactive in directing development near rail stations by adopting a variety of measures and policies that support or are at least consistent with transit-oriented development (TOD). https://www.jtlu.org/index.php/jtlu/article/view/2343passenger railfirm birthfirm closurefirm retentiontransit access
spellingShingle Basheer Saeed
Hiroyuki Iseki
Does rail transit access affect firm dynamics? Analysis of firm births and closures in Maryland, USA
Journal of Transport and Land Use
passenger rail
firm birth
firm closure
firm retention
transit access
title Does rail transit access affect firm dynamics? Analysis of firm births and closures in Maryland, USA
title_full Does rail transit access affect firm dynamics? Analysis of firm births and closures in Maryland, USA
title_fullStr Does rail transit access affect firm dynamics? Analysis of firm births and closures in Maryland, USA
title_full_unstemmed Does rail transit access affect firm dynamics? Analysis of firm births and closures in Maryland, USA
title_short Does rail transit access affect firm dynamics? Analysis of firm births and closures in Maryland, USA
title_sort does rail transit access affect firm dynamics analysis of firm births and closures in maryland usa
topic passenger rail
firm birth
firm closure
firm retention
transit access
url https://www.jtlu.org/index.php/jtlu/article/view/2343
work_keys_str_mv AT basheersaeed doesrailtransitaccessaffectfirmdynamicsanalysisoffirmbirthsandclosuresinmarylandusa
AT hiroyukiiseki doesrailtransitaccessaffectfirmdynamicsanalysisoffirmbirthsandclosuresinmarylandusa