Density gradients and their determinants: Evidence from India

Although India contains a large number of urban agglomerations (UAs), their suburbanization has drawn little attention in the literature. This paper calculates population, household, and employment density gradients for India's UAs, using the two-point method. Gradients for one major city in India are estimated and its spatial evolution is documented. At the aggregate level, we find that the size of UA and lagged value of the population gradient explain population suburbanization. Evidence from the employment suburbanization equation indicates that it is jobs that follow people, and not vice-versa, consistent with what has been found in the literature. The paper concludes with policy insights.