The Economics of Urban Sprawl: Inefficiency as a Core Feature of Metropolitan Growth

Three components of the Memphis MSA economy with a focus on today's provision of social infrastructure and its impact on the economy of tomorrow are examined: 1. jobs, business, and housing, 2. commuting, and 3. government infrastructure capital costs. The modern metropolis is becoming less eff...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of economic issues 2001-06, Vol.35 (2), p.405-413
Main Author: Ciscel, David H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Automobiles
Cities
Commuters
Commuting
County governments
Economic costs
Economic impact
Economic theory
Housing
Metropolitan statistical areas
Operating costs
Studies
Suburbs
Urban sprawl
Urbanization
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Summary:Three components of the Memphis MSA economy with a focus on today's provision of social infrastructure and its impact on the economy of tomorrow are examined: 1. jobs, business, and housing, 2. commuting, and 3. government infrastructure capital costs. The modern metropolis is becoming less efficient because of urban sprawl. Driven by functional segregation in suburban design, sprawl inverts the traditional efficiencies of urban agglomeration. For the Memphis MSA and other modern commuter-based cities, alternatives seem somewhat far-fetched. The path to the recognition of the problems of sprawling city and their reformation will be slow and tortuous.
ISSN:0021-3624
1946-326X
DOI:10.1080/00213624.2001.11506374