Suburban shocks : assessing locational vulnerability to rising household fuel and mortgage interest costs.

There has been little research so far that has reported on how the impacts of rising fuel and mortgage interest costs will be distributed across Australian cities and the implications this may hold for urban and transport policy making. This study undertakes a locational vulnerability assessment for mortgage, petrol and inflation risks and expenses (VAMPIRE) to assess how potential adverse impacts from rising fuel costs would likely be distributed across Australian cities. The study uses Australian Bureau of Statistics census data to create a vulnerability index that can identify areas of greatest risk, and conversely, those areas where the impacts of rising fuel costs are likely to be less extensive. The study reflects on the capacity of existing urban structures and transport systems to accommodate behavioural responses to rising fuel costs and changing household financial pressures. The conclusions of the research identify a number of potential policy directions to address oil and mortgage vulnerability with an emphasis on equitable spatial provision of public transport services. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E214666.