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They're happy living outside them with their current level of access to cheap energy. If we address the need to fight climate change, cities might become much m
by abyssin 6y ago
They're happy living outside them with their current level of access to cheap energy. If we address the need to fight climate change, cities might become much more comfortable to live in, given the economies of scale their population density allow.
- droopyEyelids 6y agoCurrent access to cheap everything! As a whole, the suburban lifestyle has a greater reliance on the fruits of globalization. I don't think we're guaranteed a future where we can rely on globally sourced cheap products materials and labor. Not making any predictions about that, though. Just saying that if globalization wasn't a thing, cities would be more important.
- johnchristopher 6y agoWhy should cities become more comfortable ? Just make up policies that forces/incentivizes people to move to the city and voilà.
- bathtub365 6y agoHow about people who don't want to live in a dense urban environment, no matter much an economist tells them that the "economies of scale" of a city are more favourable for the statistical model they happen to believe in the most?
- mmm_grayons 6y agoThe air pollution problem that commuting causes may be negated in the future with increases of working from home. I don't see how energy is significantly cheaper in the city vs. in suburbs or rural areas, aside from transmission costs. To which economies of scale do you refer, and how would cities become more comfortable? I assume maybe you mean cheaper? Housing costs, for instance, aren't actually lower, people just live in disgustingly small spaces. I think you're mistaken about the inclinations of the average person. People like having a decent amount of living space. I don't think most would want to give up a back yard.