In applied historical research, geographic units often differ in level of aggregation across datasets. One solution is to use crosswalks that associate factors located within one geographic unit to another, based on their relative areas. We develop an alternative approach based on relative...

1. The classical linear regression model -- 2. Some important spatial definitions -- 3. Spatial linear regression models -- 4. Further topics in spatial econometrics -- 5. Alternative spatial model specifications in the era of Big Data -- 6. Conclusions: What’s next?.

We develop a framework to estimate the economic value of a recent zoning reform in the city of Sao Paulo, which altered maximum permitted construction at the city-block level. Using a spatial regression discontinuity design, we find that developers file for more multi-family construction permits...