ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a short review of separate developments in commuting and mobility research. It focuses on theoretical commuting models. The chapter argues that it is worthwhile to analyse commuting behaviour from a dynamic perspective, as a job move and a residential move may imply a change of commuting distance. It also focuses on job and residential relocation behaviour - particularly in relationship to commuting. Models in urban economics are based on the assumption that firms and households compete for scarce land for production and housing activities. The underlying behaviour is thought of as bidding behaviour. Following the tradition of Alonso, these urban models contain a typical structure of the urban area. The location of the residence determines the length of the commuting journey. So in the field of housing economics, it is thought that longer commuting journeys are compensated for by lower housing prices.
