This paper presents a model which illustrates the interaction between the labour and real estate markets in the determination of the value of local amenities. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the importance of functional form in measuring the quality of life (QOL) in urban areas. Using 1980 data on US urban counties, this specification provides new options for QOL estimates as an extension of previous work. This study also discusses the problems associated with summarising QOL in a one-dimensional monotonic ranking. One form of a multi-dimensional rating system is presented for comparison.
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