Making Cities Work: Prospects and Policies for Urban America

by Robert Inman (Editor)

Making Cities Work brings together leading writers and scholars on urban America to offer critical perspectives on how to sustain prosperous, livable cities in today's fast-evolving economy. Successful cities provide jobs, quality schools, safe and clean neighborhoods, effective transportation, and welcoming spaces for all residents. But cities must be managed well if they are to remain attractive places to work, relax, and raise a family; otherwise residents, firms, and workers will leave and the social and economic advantages of city living will be lost.


Drawing on cutting-edge research in the social sciences, the contributors explore optimal ways to manage the modern city and propose solutions to today's most pressing urban problems. Topics include the urban economy, transportation, housing and open space, immigration, race, the impacts of poverty on children, education, crime, and financing and managing services. The contributors show how to make cities work for diverse urban constituencies, and why we still need cities despite the many challenges they pose. Making Cities Work brings the latest findings in urban economics to policymakers, researchers, and students, as well as anyone interested in urban affairs.


In addition to the editor, the contributors are David Card, Philip J. Cook, Janet Currie, Edward L. Glaeser, Joseph Gyourko, Richard J. Murnane, Witold Rybczynski, Kenneth A. Small, and Jacob L. Vigdor.

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book on urban planning in America. The chapter by Ed Glaeser is particularly helpful. This book gives specific data on what works and what doesn't work rather than vague opinions. For example, they talk in detail about crime-- crime has gone down nationwide during the recession despite widespread belief that rising poverty would cause crime to go up. They talk in detail about what housing and growth policies work and what effect various policies have had.

I try to run Haverhill and make decisions based upon data, not feel good ideas. If you believe in the same, and if you are looking for a book that has the data and background for data driven government, this is teh book for you.

I have recommended it to my staff.

Mayor Jim Fiorentini, Haverhill MA