Demographi Forces and Turning Points in the American City, 1950-2040

Submitted by Urban Insight on Tue, 07/24/2012 - 12:51
Author

Dowell Myers and John Pitkin

Year Published
2009
Abstract
The effects of two major demographic forces are traced
between 1950 and 2040: the formation and aging of the
baby boom generation and the reduction and subsequent return of large-scale immigration. These forces
combine to mark several major turning points essential
for understanding the changing urban condition. These
include the depopulation of "gray areas" that spurred
urban renewal in the 1950s, the gentrification initiated
in the 1970s, and the collapse of apartment construction in the 1990s followed by its recovery in the 2000s.
Looking forward, the authors address the substantial
impact of settled immigrants who are now upwardly
mobile. Finally, the authors consider the impacts of the
sell-off of housing by the aging of the massive baby
boom generation that is anticipated to take place beginning in 2020 and discuss whether the expected housing
glut can be absorbed by a relatively smaller and less
advantaged younger generation in the 2040s.
Research Category

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