The compensation hypothesis in Barcelona measured through the ecological footprint of mobility and housing

The compensation hypothesis poses the possibility that individuals who live in dense urban centres have a greater propensity to have a second residence and/or to travel more frequently to more distant destinations on the weekends and vacations than individuals who live in zones that are not so dense. Given this context, the net effect of density in environmental terms is not clear. In this study, we check the compensation hypothesis in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area using the ecological footprint of mobility and housing as global environmental impact indicator. The results strongly reject the compensation hypothesis, although they do detect the existence of a maximum level of density beyond which a positive impact is exerted.

► We examine the impact of urban density and distance to city centre on the ecological footprint of housing and mobility.
► We include leisure mobility and second homes impact.
► We check the compensation hypothesis (possible positive net impact of density on housing and mobility ecological footprint) in Barcelona.
► Results reject the compensation hypothesis.
► We detect a maximum level of density beyond which a positive impact is exerted (weak compensation).