Suzy Khimm reports on a new paper that demonstrates that, contrary to widely held beliefs, the country’s top metropolitan areas became more segregated from 1995 to 2006.
Khimm notes that many theorized that the housing bubble would have had a desegregating effect, as "easy credit may have helped desegregate low-income neighborhoods as minorities became more upwardly mobile."
However, the paper, published by economists Amine Ouazad and Romain Ranciere in VoxEU, "found that while black families tended to move to more integrated neighborhoods, upwardly mobile Hispanics were more likely to self-segregate."
Furthermore, Khimm points out that affluent white families were able to use easy credit as leverage to buy into less integrated areas.
Even more stunning than the unexpected impact was that, "the segregation that resulted from the credit boom overshadowed what court-ordered desegregation plans had achieved from 1971 to 1986."
FULL STORY: How the housing bubble increased segregation
Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.
Baton Rouge Will Split into Two Cities Following Court Ruling
A wealthy portion of Baton Rouge will split off and incorporate its own city in what proponents say is a bid for better schools and reduced crime, but critics say it will gut Baton Rouge’s tax base and result in a wealthy ‘white enclave.’
The History of Racial Zoning and Housing Discrimination in the US
More than a century of discriminatory housing policy divided cities and contributed to the racial wealth gap and other social and economic inequities.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)