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- Info
Growing pains: quality of life in the new economy
| Author: |
Hirschhorn, J.S. |
| Date: |
2000 |
| Periodical: |
Washington D.C.: National Governors' Association. 68 p. |
| Link: |
http://www.nga.org/cda/files/GROWINGPAINS.pdf
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| Abstract: |
American growth has historically been linked to a higher quality of life. For some 50 years, the United States has experienced unprecedented economic growth, producing higher levels of affluence, homeownership, and mobility for most Americans. The economic boom of the 1990s has seen increasing demand for larger homes on larger lots, often with garages to handle three or more vehicles. Most Americans now live in suburban communities, and suburban growth has steadily increased pressures on government services, infrastructure, and the environment. One consequence of largely uncoordinated land development and rapid expansion of suburban areas is that many urban centers have languished. A host of impacts from the traditional style of growth have sparked public concerns, including traffic congestion, a variety of environmental impacts, and loss of open spaces. Many people fear that the negative effects they already feel on their everyday lives may worsen if current growth patterns continue. Fueling public interest is a steady flow of local and national news stories, books, and campaigns by public interest and grassroots groups addressing local growth issues. |
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