Response to "'Ties that Bind' Reexamined"

Abstract

This response notes that the use of statewide measures of growth rates may be problematic in trying to account for suburban growth rates, given the fact that suburbs make up sizable portions of various states' populations. On the other hand, city and suburban growth can be separated by definition, yet are still found to be correlated. The thesis of interdependence between cities and suburbs is found to be valid, in part because consumers act within a regional market. At the same time, this response agrees with Blair and Zhang that more attention should be given to variables that reflect the role of states in metropolitan development.