This is low-tech, but have we considered surveying a large number of people with these two questions: - Why are you living in this city/metropolitan area, as o

This is low-tech, but have we considered surveying a large number of people with these two questions: - Why are you living in this city/metropolitan area, as opposed to some other city? - Why are you living in this particular dwelling, as opposed to a different dwelling in the same city? I hypothesize that most people will perceive objectively positive outcomes as a result of their choice, while objectively negative outcomes as a result of necessity ie. factors external to their free choice. This would imply that the most negatively affected population anywhere is also the least mobile to relocate, for factors that are often, but not solely economical. Many of the non-economic ideas behind "New Cities" won't help these people, albeit some of the infrastructure and public transit proposals would enable them to better participate in the local economy.