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Space and gas taxes. Europeans do not have significant amounts of space to build housing supplies, that's why space/m^2 is much higher than here in the states,

by Agustus 10y ago

Space and gas taxes. Europeans do not have significant amounts of space to build housing supplies, that's why space/m^2 is much higher than here in the states, witness San Fancisco's trolley system that caused suburbanization (or at least enabled it). Gas Taxes in Europe are double than here in the states[1], US gas is taxed at relatively low rates when compared to other nations. Used as a user tax here in the states, its predominant purpose is to fund roadway improvements and maintenance; however, it is used to fund transit and other items. In Europe, the higher gas tax is used to drive (good one Agustus) less travel and subsidize rail lines. The trams / streetcars in Europe work because the suburbanization was stopped by high government taxes and forces the populous to pay more for a lower comparable standard of living. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fuel_tax_in_OECD_countries,_2010..png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fuel_tax_in_OECD_countrie... *Edited for why, if you disagree, please provide an alternative opinion. I have taken the time to provide a discourse, if a downvote to it is necessary, then please provide a reason.

Gmo 10y ago
I did not downvote you but I found your post was reasonable (although I don't completely agree with it) until your last sentence and the "lower comparable standard of living". My guess is where the downvoting come from :)
Retric 10y ago
Suburbanization was heavily subsidized in the US for a variety of political reasons. That just happened to line politically connected peoples pockets. It's actually terrible from an economic standpoint. The US also focuses on extremely local school funding which promotes heavy economic segregation and is extremely harmful for the overall economy. PS: Early on post WWII it was assumed to be a good defense from the at the time low yield nuclear weapons. But, this is hard to trace back and might not have had significant impact.

by Agustus 10y ago

Gmo 10y ago

I did not downvote you but I found your post was reasonable (although I don't completely agree with it) until your last sentence and the "lower comparable standard of living". My guess is where the downvoting come from :)

Retric 10y ago

Suburbanization was heavily subsidized in the US for a variety of political reasons. That just happened to line politically connected peoples pockets. It's actually terrible from an economic standpoint. The US also focuses on extremely local school funding which promotes heavy economic segregation and is extremely harmful for the overall economy. PS: Early on post WWII it was assumed to be a good defense from the at the time low yield nuclear weapons. But, this is hard to trace back and might not have had significant impact.