Suburban Sprawl, Racial Segregation and Spatial Mismatch in Metropolitan America

Abstract

Using multivariate models and newly available measures to measure Smart Growth, the issue of whether Smart Growth will help reduce racial separation is asked. Among the multiple findings is that metro areas with equal percentages of population living in the suburbs (and with other variables controlled), the ones with more sprawl (i.e. lower densities, long unconnected streets) have less black-white residential segregation.

Keywords

• urban sprawl
• racial discrimination
• suburbanization
• smart growth
• new urbanism