The Shape of the New American City

What does the future hold for America's cities and metropolitan areas? This special volume of The ANNALS analyzes demographic trends, housing preferences, crime patterns, economic indicators, and infrastructure investments to examine emerging patterns in the nation's cities. Drawing on research by leading scholars, the volume points toward a growing metropolitan centrality and a slowing-down of the sprawling suburban growth of the last half century. In particular, contributors agree that cities with dense, walkable downtowns that agglomerate economic activity are poised for resurgence.This volume is a must-have for policymakers, scholars, and students to gain a deeper understanding of the current shape of the "New American City" and its overall effects on American culture and economics.

Introduction: The Shape of the New American City - Eugenie L. Birch and Susan M. WachterA Nation of Cities: The Federal Government and the Shape of the American Metropolis - Kenneth T. JacksonCITIES IN THE U.S. ECONOMY: COMPETITIVENESS, DEPENDENCE, AND EMPLOYMENTCrime and U.S. Cities: Recent Patterns and Implications - Ingrid Gould Ellen and Katherine O'ReganHow Should Suburbs Help Their Central Cities? Growth and Welfare Enhancing Intra-metropolitan Fiscal Distributions - Andrew F. Haughwout and Robert P. Inman Cities Today: A New Frontier for Major Developments - Saskia SassenURBAN DEMOGRAPHICS: IMMIGRATION, HOUSING, AND SERVICESThe Changing Bases of Segregation in the United States - Douglas S. Massey, Jonathan Rothwell, and Thurston DominaDemographic Forces and Turning Points in the American City, 1950 to 2040 - Dowell Myers and John PitkinUrban Growth and Housing Affordability: The Conflict - Richard Voith and Susan M. WachterTHE METROPOLITAN FOOTPRINT: SPRAWL AND REURBANIZATIONDowntown in the 'New American City' - Eugenie L. BirchThe Changing Shape of Metropolitan America - John LandisThe New Urbanity: The Rise of a New America - Arthur C. NelsonPUBLIC INVESTMENT IN AMERICAN CITIES: INFRASTRUCTURE, SERVICES, AND DELIVERYTransport Infrastructure and Global Competitiveness: Balancing Mobility and Livability - Robert CerveroMaking Infrastructure Competitive in an Urban World - Rae Zimmerman