The spatial distribution of Airbnb supply in Los Angeles

Following the growing popularity of Airbnb, much research has been conducted, while limited attention has been devoted to the spatial patterns of Airbnb, which can provide insights into the geographic logistics of Airbnb supply. To fill this gap, this study investigates the spatial patterns of Airbnb supply in the city of Los Angeles during the years 2014 to 2019. This study integrates Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) and explores the determinants of spatial patterns of Airbnb supply in 2019 with spatial regression models. The results of the spatial autocorrelation analysis show that the spatial distribution of Airbnb supply in Los Angeles is positively clustered and shows a geographical logistical trend over time. The distribution of Airbnb supply has a clear center-periphery pattern. The high-high (HH) clusters are concentrated in the central areas of Los Angeles, while low-low (LL) clusters predominate in the peripheral areas. In addition, with spatial regression analysis, several determinants affecting the spatial distribution of Airbnb supply are identified such as resident population, housing units, income, rent, point of interest (POI), and the distance to Hollywood. Further implications of the findings are discussed below.