Estimating the commuting costs of Seoul's Greenbelt

This research estimates commuting costs associated with Seoul's Greenbelt. It uses a density gradient framework for workers and residents and assumes that the Greenbelt results in a major discontinuity in these gradients that would be eliminated if the Greenbelt did not exist. This means abolition o f the Greenbelt would result in both more workers and residents within the Greenbelt and fewer outside (both centrally and peripherally). The commuter distance savings from this reallocation form the basis for measuring the c ommuting costs. The average savings is 5 percent (a reduction from 7.14 ion to 6.79 km); Greenbelt workers and residents would achieve substantial sav ings that are not fully offset by modest increases for those in the non-Gre enbelt zones. Total commuting costs associated with the current Greenbelt a re $65.96 million per year for our-of-pocket costs ($12.01 per commuter), o r $395.56 million per year ($72.02 per commuter) including the value of tra vel time.