Urban and Environmental Issues May 6, 1999

The US is an Urban Nation §By % of America lived in cities §By % of Americans will live in cities §Alabama is now an urban state

Cities have Many Special Problems §Density has declined and urban sprawl increased §Jobs are no longer in the urban core

Transportation is a problem §Public Transportation is heavily subsidized and not readily available §The automobile may have reached its capacity in quality of life

Growth brings problems §Pollution §Neglected Housing §Fragmented Government §Poor Infrastructure §Inequitable tax structures §Political conflict

Urban Growth and the Decline of Community §Lack of civic culture §Crime, lack of pride in the community

America’s Growth in the 19th Century was Wasteful §Deforestation §Soil Depletion §Mining Regulations §Water Pollution §Livestock

Environmental Protection Helps Everyone but the Individual Contributions are Difficult to See §To achieve environmental protection, government gives externalities (e.g. tax benefits) and coercion (e.g. fines)

Our Attempt to Tame the Environment has Led to Many Problems §Flooding along the major river systems

Our Attempt to Tame the Environment has Led to Many Problems §Air Pollution

Our Attempt to Tame the Environment has Led to Many Problems §Long-term health problems

Our Attempt to Tame the Environment has Led to Many Problems § Land and Water Pollution