1. Urban and Environmental Issues May 6, 1999

2. The US is an Urban Nation §By 1920 50% of America lived in cities §By 2000 80% of Americans will live in cities §Alabama is now an urban state

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

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

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

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

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

8. 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)

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

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

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

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