The Smart Money Is On Smart Growth

Business and government leaders grow especially eager to restrain spending and stimulate growth in times of tight budgets and persistent economic uncertainty. In this paper, Mark Muro and Robert Puentes review the growing evidence that compact development patterns and reinvestment in established areas can save taxpayers money and improve regional economies. Overall, they conclude that managing growth with an eye to promoting urban vitality can at once reduce the cost of providing public infrastructure and services, and enhance regional economic performance. The report also contends that suburbs also benefit from policies that bolster the health of central cities. In sum, the best academic literature suggests that smart growth is especially smart in times of fiscal conservatism.