Development in 3D: The Keys on the Differences of the Quality of Life in the Regions

Abstract

The data for Colombia suggests that in municipalities still persist deep differences in the
levels and space distribution of quality of life index (ICV). This article explores the main
factors in the explanation of these differences according with the approach of the New
Economic Geography (NEG ). This study focuses on the regions with the largest precence
of black population and uses information available for 1059 municipalities of Colombia’s
population Census of 2005. Using univariant and multivariants spatial econometric
techniques, this study identifies the presence of clusters of high and low quality of life.
Results show that distance, the rate of urbanization and the concentration level of the black
population allow to explain the spatial differences in the quality of life conditions. The
estimation of the spatial econometrics models suggest than the rate of urbanization (proxy
of the economic market size) affects positively the quality of life level (ICV). Additionally
the spatial distribution of the black population and the distance to the main markets
indicate a negative and statistically significant relation with the ICV.