Jensen, Helen H.; Garasky, Steven; Fletcher, Cynthia Needles

Journal of Consumer Affairs Vol. 40 (April 2006): 64-89.

This study examines the role of reliable vehicles in facilitating employment, using a new dataset, the Iowa Transportation and Employment Survey. The empirical results document significantly higher levels of transportation problems and human capital barriers among low-income compared to other households, and among low-income nonworking adults compared to their employed counterparts. The multivariate analysis of low-income households shows that employment and reliable transportation are related. Respondents without access to a reliable vehicle are less likely to be employed; those employed are more likely to have access to a reliable vehicle. Residence in an area adjacent to a metropolitan area has a positive effect on working.