Simulation of firms as a planning support system to limit urban sprawl of jobs

Besides the urban sprawl of housing, many regions suffer from an employment shift from city centres to the suburbs. A simulation model has been developed that analyses alternative strategies for limiting the suburbanisation of employment. It applies microsimulation by representing single businesses individually. The establishment, growth, decline, closure, and relocation of firms are simulated. The model was implemented in the urban region of Dortmund in Germany. Zoning, transport, and tax-related policies were tested and compared to estimate their likely success in fostering a more sustainable land-use development. The analyses reveal that a regionally coordinated approach would be the most successful policy option for reducing the urban sprawl of employment. Benefits and drawbacks of using microsimulation for business modeling are discussed.