Publications


I investigate the effect of noise on the amenity value of urban green open spaces in Prague, Czech Republic. First, I use standard hedonic pricing model exploiting cross-sectional and quasi-experimental variation in the apartment price data and then I analyse green open spaces quality inferred from a quantitative spatial model. Results show that increasing size of quiet green open spaces (with noise below 60 dB) by 10% increases local apartment prices by 0.05% and perceived quality of green open spaces by 1.2%. In a counterfactual scenario, if noise in green open spaces decreases by 2 dB, a noise reduction achieved by implementing 30 km/h speed limit in a city, value of apartments would increase by 0.2% due to increased size of accessible quiet green open spaces. (JEL R31, R41, R52)

Working papers



We generate a mix-adjusted house price index for England and Wales from 2010 to 2020 at the level of lower-layer super output areas. To this end, we blend parametric and non-parametric estimation techniques and leverage on a matched Land Registry-Energy Performance Certificate data set. The key advantage of our index is that it combines full spatial coverage with high spatial detail.


Work-in-progress



I show that without persistent spatial planning and building permitting that does not reflect pent-up demand for housing, large cities in the Czech Republic would be even larger as well as overall economic output would be higher.
I propose a novel housing supply function explicitly depending on maximum allowed density of development, amount of zoned developable land and stringency of local permitting process. Additionally, the function incorporates the concept of "kinked supply function" resulting from dura- bility of housing capital. I then embed this function within a quantitative spatial model framework based on Ahlfeldt et al. (2015).
Analysing data from the Czech Republic during its transition to a market economy between 1991 and 2011 I find substantial variation in long-term housing supply price elasticities with inter quartile range spanning from 0.39 to 0.77. However, low supply price elasticities in many places are not caused by constraining planning, but rather low price levels of real estate.
Counterfactual analyses show combination of relaxation of stringent poli- cies by upzoning by 50%, or increasing developable densities by 50% and keeping permitting stringency at first pentile of national level would in- crease indirect utility by up to 4% along with re-allocation of up to 2.6% workforce generally from rural areas to cities (JEL J22, P25, R13, R23, R31, R52). SLIDES
In this paper I analyse agglomeration wage elasticities in the context of the Czech Republic where neither individual-level nor locally aggregated wage data are available. Instead, I use quantitative spatial model following Ahlfeldt et al. (2015) to infer wages from commuting patterns on a very fine geographical level for a representative worker and for three groups of workers by their education. On a labour market level, I do find agglomeration wage elasticities of 6.7%. On a very local level, they are higher at 9% and dissipate quickly with distance. In overall, agglomeration economies tend to rise with workers’ education, but their rate of decay across space is about the same independent of education achieved (JEL R11, J31, J24, R41).  SLIDES
This paper focuses on workers’ commuting behaviour by their skill levels and by their place of residence either in mixed use, or in purely residential neighbourhoods. Mixing urban functions is one tool which planners want to use to shorten trips to amenities and jobs. I present a very simple model which predicts that high-skilled workers are less likely to find job locally. I study data from the Czech Republic and show that while mixed use neighbourhoods on average shorten commuting distances, this effect is smaller for high-skilled workers. This partially undermines one of arguments to disperse jobs more evenly across cities to shorten trips to work (JEL R14, R23, R41, R52).  SLIDES