An Econometric Analysis of the Determinants of Small's Cities' Attractiveness: Evidence from Moroccan Case

Abstract

The ultimate goal of this paper is to conduct an exploratory analysis that aims to identify the factors that may influence the residential attractiveness of small cities in Morocco. The contribution was the fruit of the construction of four statistical models (OLS model, Backward regression model, forward stepwise regression, and both ways stepwise regression) aiming to identify the most decisive variables affecting the attractiveness of the population. For this purpose, while aiming to be more exhaustive in the analysis, a diversified battery of socio-economic, spatial, and geographical indicators has been mobilized to conduct structural modeling. The econometrics findings show that the phenomenon of residential attractiveness is quite complex and is subject to the influence of several variables where each has its own effect. However, we have demonstrated that the supply of employment and the development of industrial activity remain the most important factors influencing the territorial attractiveness of small cities in Morocco ($\mathrm{p} < 0.001$).