Suburbanization has become a global reality, and the factors which hinder small towns’ growth into sprawls have been neutralized by advances in technology, transportation, immigration, and communication. However, there are varied opinions on suburbanization effects, with some people claiming that it is a burden, while others say that it is a development. The paper aims to critically analyze current and past news articles, which can help substantiate the position of suburbanization.
The United States is one of the western countries where suburban areas are developing while the cities are declining. Boone writes that since 1970, the suburbs’ population has increased compared to that in the central cities, and by 2010, the number exceeded that of rural areas and cities combined. According to Boone, one of the characteristics of suburbanization is the rise in employment, which has attracted more people to the regions. However, the growth of economic activities in suburban areas causes the exploitation of natural resources and pollution. Even though suburbanization has attracted interest from many residents, it has significant negative impacts
The second article describes the negative trends of suburbanization in metropolitan areas and their effect on the overall growth of the U.S. Pacheco illustrates that there is a great dispersion of population as most people are moving from dense cities. The consequence of the migration is the decreased growth in urban cores, with major city-states as California losing close to 5 million residents in the last ten years (Pacheco). Nonetheless, the article also predicts a surge in carbon emissions as one of the negative implications.
The fact that suburbanization has become a reality implies that the respective regions have undergone alterations over the years. Lasky writes about the different changes the suburbs have undergone and states that these areas are increasingly becoming complex. Suburbanization is no longer for whites as immigrants have adapted to the settlement trend. However, moving into the cities’ outskirts is no longer a joy because poverty levels are increasing (Lasky). The high movement rate to suburbs has made the conditions of the latter unbearable.
The last article focuses on the hardship element created by suburbanization in America. According to Semuels, suburbs are now full of low-income earners, and, unfortunately, these areas are not equipped enough to handle the influx in poverty. The author uses Atlanta as the case study and indicates that the city outskirts which once had good schools and clean streets are no longer sustainable (Semuels). The unemployment rate in the regions is increasing, and the inhabitants struggle to find essential services they once experienced in urban cores.
The discussed articles bear similarities in the trends of urbanization occurring over the years. One concept traversing all the authors’ thoughts is the high rate of suburbanization. The perception that the cities are overpopulated motivates residents to move from urban cores to the city outskirts. Furthermore, all the articles mention both the positive and negative implications of urban-suburban migrations. Individuals who moved out of the city for a peaceful life are thinking of moving back (Boone). Even though suburbanization has become a reality, it has both benefits and challenges.
Nonetheless, the approaches of the authors in analyzing the trends in the subject are quite different. Boone and Pacheco focus on the economic impacts of suburbanization and illustrate that whereas suburban areas are experiencing a growth in the economy, the situation in cities is quite the opposite. Semuels and Lasky, on the other hand, address the issue of high poverty levels as a result of population dispersion. Consequently, both city and national governments must develop strategies on how to regulate suburbanization and its aftermaths.
Large towns and cities have for a long time been points of attraction due to high levels of development and better job market compared to rural areas. However, suburbanization has changed this norm as the outskirts of urban cores are beginning to grow even faster. The movement into suburbs has created employment opportunities in those areas but at the same time increasing the levels of poverty.
Works Cited
Boone, Christopher. “The U.S. Has Become a Nation of Suburbs.” High Country News, 2018, Web.
Lasky, Julie. “Like It or Not, the Suburbs Are Changing.” The New York Times, 2020, Web.
Pacheco, Antonio. “Suburbanization Is Back at the Worst Possible Time.” Archinect, 2019, Web.
Semuels, Alana. “Suburbs and the New American Poverty.” The Atlantic, 2015, Web.