The Challenges of Shrinking Cities

Mayor Bing of Detroit has announced an intention to "right-size" the city. Ed Glaeser talks about what that might mean.

1 minute read

March 18, 2010, 1:00 PM PDT

By franny.ritchie


Harvard economics professor Edward L. Glaeser was interviewed on PRI's The Takeaway, following up on his New York Times blog on right-sizing Detroit.

Glaeser says in the interview, "There's very little public controversy over tearing down those buildings that are empty, dilapidated and an obvious health risk. There's just an issue of spending the thousands of dollars that are needed to tear them down. Versus the larger ambition, when you are tearing down entire neighborhoods, sometimes with people still living in it. That's where this thing really has bite and becomes more politically challenging."

Thanks to Franny Ritchie

Wednesday, March 17, 2010 in NYTimes Economix Blog

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