completely the opposite we artificially subsidized sprawl for generations. leading to a periphery of, as you say, rotting/abandoned countryside homes, because

completely the opposite we artificially subsidized sprawl for generations. leading to a periphery of, as you say, rotting/abandoned countryside homes, because the economic activity generated by people living that spread out does not cover the cost of modern standard of living infrastructure over that distance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG1T03NuZKM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG1T03NuZKM cities are expensive because they do have the economic network effects of people in proximity, they are simply where the money is, combined with restrictions on building new units. continuing to pour good money after bad down the sprawl money pit will only make things worse. the only way out is up.