Potential Impacts Of Recession And Terrorism On U.S. Cities

This paper by Alice Rivlin and Alan Berube attempts to shed light on the concerns of the combined impact of the recession and ongoing terrorist threats on the health of cities.

1 minute read

January 25, 2002, 2:00 PM PST

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


Many urban residents and city officials are worried that the combined impact of the recession and ongoing terrorist threats may have a devastating effect on the health of cities. This paper attempts to shed light on these concerns by examining the impact of the last two recessions on large cities, by exploring recent trends that may affect the vulnerability of cities in the current recession, and by speculating on the long-term effects of terrorism on urban centers. The analysis is relatively reassuring about the short-term prospects for cities in the recession; the economic and social health of individual cities will depend on their industrial makeup and state-level spending decisions. Over the long term, the paper posits that fears of terrorism will play, at most, a small role in determining the fate of cities as employment and residential centers.

Thanks to Kurt Sommer

Thursday, January 24, 2002 in The Brookings Institution

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

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.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

"Units for sale - contact your local realtor" sign in front of homes.

‘Displaced By Design:’ Report Spotlights Gentrification in Black Neighborhoods

A new report finds that roughly 15 percent of U.S. neighborhoods have been impacted by housing cost increases and displacement.

6 hours ago - Next City

Turquoise blue Pyramid Lake near Reno, Nevada.

Nevada and Utah Groups Oppose Public Land Sell-Off Plan

A set of last-minute amendments to the budget reconciliation bill open up over half a million acres of federally managed land to sales.

7 hours ago - Inside Climate News

Alpine Recreation Center sign in park in Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA.

More Than a Park: A Safe Haven for Generations in LA’s Chinatown

Alpine Recreation Center serves as a vital cultural and community hub in Los Angeles' Chinatown, offering a safe, welcoming space for generations of Chinese American residents to gather, connect, and thrive amidst rapid urban change.

May 19 - American Community Media

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.