Do Smart Growth Urban Development Strategies Reduce Jobs-housing Distance in a High-density City? The Case of the Seoul Metropolitan Area

This study examines the practicality of smart growth strategies for already compact cities, testing whether zones with high-density development, mixed land use, and transit-oriented development result in shorter travel distances between jobs and housing in the Seoul metropolitan area of Korea. The findings, derived from spatial econometric models, reveal that high-density development does not always reduce these distances. Furthermore, greater subway accessibility induces a longer commuting distance. However, jobs-housing balance, a mixed-use variable, reduces commuting distances. The findings imply that smart growth principles should be applied together, not separately, for better planning results.