Traditional heartland dominance of the U.S. economy, described by Myrdal's 'process of circular and cumulative causation', has been reversed within the past decade. Sparked by shifts in job location, and structured by housing market dynamics, dominant migration streams are from core to periphery, from large cities to small, from higher to lower density areas, and from metropolitan to non-metropolitan regions. These reversals are restructuring the nation's settlement patterns. This paper examines the role of U.S. housing policy in promoting new low-density residential construction far in excess of household growth, thereby accelerating neighbourhood filtering and the abandonment of housing constructed in earlier decades, and facilitating locational adjustments to the growth reversals. Within this context, the forces promoting revitalization of certain inner neighbourhoods in certain metropolitan regions are evaluated: local 'tightness' of housing supply; life-style shifts in the 'baby boom' generation; and a particular coincidence of neighbourhood externalities such as high-quality older housing, public-good amenities, and abundant facilities and services. It is concluded that each of these forces is subject to limits that will severely constrain the extent of inner city revitalization, however, unless other more potent contributing causes appear.
Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers is a leading international journal of major research papers. It is one of the most widely read and cited geographical journals. It publishes substantial articles of the highest scholarly standard on any theoretical or empirical subject in geography. Papers based upon original research, which draw attention to the wider implications of their findings, assessment of debates at the cutting edge of the discipline and contributions showing the methodological and interdisciplinary significance of geography for critical environmental and social understanding are especially welcome.
The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) is the Learned Society representing Geography and geographers. It was founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical science and has been among the most active of the learned societies ever since. The largest geographical society in Europe, and one of the largest in the world, the RGS-IBG operates at a regional, national and international scale. The Society supports research, education and training, together with the wider public understanding and enjoyment of Geography. With its focus on society and environment, Geography is one of the most popular subjects in formal education and highly relevant to both life-long learning and fulfillment from travel.
This item is part of a JSTOR Collection.
For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions
Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers
© 1980 The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers)
Request Permissions