Settlement Patterns in the U.S. Canada:Simliarities and Differences - Policies or Preferences?

Peter Gordon and Bumsoo Lee

No 8605, Working Paper from USC Lusk Center for Real Estate

Abstract: Smart Growth advocates in the U.S. and elsewhere worry about urban sprawl andtypically advocate new controls on urban growth, including tougher land use planningand regulation. Yet, is auto-oriented development the market's way of meeting widelyheld lifestyle preferences? Or, is it (as some critics claim) attributable to policies thatfavor such development? For the case of the U.S., critics suggest that policies are theproblem and Smart Growth is the solution. Yet, if U.S.-type development(suburbanization and widespread auto use) can be observed in non-U.S. policy settings,the critics may really be objecting to people's preferences. Comparing recent U.S. andCanadian settlement and travel trends suggests a test. Cultural differences are minor buturban policy differences are significant. How do settlement patterns and urbantransportation choices compare? Our analysis of recent data shows substantialsimilarities. Preferences appear to trump policies. The Smart Growth platform mayhave to be reconsidered.

Keywords: Smart Growth; Urban sprawl; Land Use Planning; Suburbanization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003
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