Is higher-quality land developed earlier?

Is higher-quality land developed earlier? To answer this question, the paper applies comparative static analysis to the Arnott–Lewis model of the transition of land from agricultural to urban use. It is shown that (i) an increase in agricultural fertility increases structural density and delays development; (ii) a decrease in land preparation cost reduces structural density and hastens development; and (iii) both an increase in amenities and a decrease in structure construction costs normally hasten but in anomalous cases can delay development.