Social / Demographics

Granted, this post may straddle the borderline between funny and sadly pertinent in these challenging economic times. But, we think any rankings that rely upon the number of Dollar General stores in a 30-mile radius deserves a bit of a chuckle.

May 18, 2012 - yahoo! Finance

In another milestone demonstrating the coloring of America, the Census Bureau reported this week that 2011 saw 50.4% births of color. In addition to the ethnic make-up of the country, aging data was reported.

May 18, 2012 - USA Today - Census

Scott Doyon argues that getting the next generation of collaborators involved in community improvement efforts will require more than simply using the tools of social media - it will require connecting with what people are passionate about.

May 18, 2012 - PlaceShakers

In search of cheap rent and an urban experience with some bona fide street cred, young people are making the move out to the Rust Belt, Will Doig reports.

May 17, 2012 - Salon

Haya El Nasser describes the housing market's fundamental structural changes as the housing industry rethinks what type of housing to build and where to build it.

May 17, 2012 - USA Today

Brandon Keim explores the fascinating findings detailed in a new paper, which shows that the world’s major subway systems appear to be organically converging on an ideal form.

May 16, 2012 - Wired Science

Sarah Henry spotlights "The Weight of the Nation," a new series airing this week on HBO that explores obesity and its enormous economic, emotional, social, and health costs.

May 16, 2012 - Grist

Our annual list of the 10 best planning, design, and development websites represents some of the top online resources for news, information and research on the built environment.

May 15, 2012 - Abhijeet Chavan

Launched May 1 within the Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of New York, the new J. Max Bond Center on Design for the Just City will pursue the ways in which design can make "American cities more just and inclusive places to live."

May 15, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

In this interview with Marxist scholar David Harvey, Aaron Leonard discusses the author's new book, "Rebel Cities: From the Right to the City to the Urban Revolution."

May 15, 2012 - rabble.ca

Just graduated? For the 60% of you who won't be moving back home, Richard Florida examines the best places for college grads to find jobs, housing, friends, and a little spending money.

May 14, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

The onetime steel capital's transition to an economy based on the healthcare sector has helped Pittsburgh emerge from the recession much quicker than many other cities, bringing welcome jobs and questions about its sustainability, reports Don Lee.

May 14, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

We learned earlier this week that New York deserves to be called the world's most economically powerful city. On Monday night, four cultural critics discussed whether the city should be considered the world's cultural capital as well.

May 11, 2012 - The New York Times

Rachel Cernansky reports on the federal government's recently announced plan to expand access to healthy foods by increasing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) acceptance at America's farmers markets.

May 10, 2012 - Grist

A new report from the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program documents the rise in manufacturing employment during the recovery. Motoko Rich parses the findings, their geographical implications, and whether a long-term turnaround is in the cards.

May 10, 2012 - The New York Times

With low-income children much more likely to be overweight than their wealthier counterparts, Sarah Parsons looks at six innovative ideas for improving access to healthy foods in low-income communities.

May 8, 2012 - Good

Megan Jett has created a beautiful series of compelling infographics that capture the different factors contributing to the decline of suburbia.

May 8, 2012 - ArchDaily

In an essay for The Wall Street Journal, economics author Daniel Gross explores how he believes America's transition from an Ownership Society to a Rentership Society will unleash a wave of economic efficiency to fuel the next boom.

May 7, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

Sarah Goodyear reports on a new study that illustrates the disastrous effect that commuting by car has on children's connection to their neighborhoods.

May 7, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

A new report by Kevin Watkins tries to make visible the horrifying threat to children's health that road traffic presents. It is the leading cause of death globally for young people between the ages of 10 and 24, reports Sarah Goodyear.

May 6, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities