NPR had a thrilling story Monday with cases demonstrating that the increased cost of fuel may have already started to reverse urban sprawl. (Why is this topic neglected in political and economic analyses?) I was in Worcester, Massachusetts, this weekend. The visible difference between Boston and Worcester as seen in the built environment and the health of the inhabitants is startling. (I just caught the first episode of PBS's series on health and wealth titled "Unnatural Causes," but it was brilliant. A must-see for sure.) In our age of post-industrial globalization, the biggest cities have swelled and sprawled at the expense of second-tier cities like Worcester and Springfield. I've heard it described as a return to the ancient era of city-states. But it doesn't have to be that way. (See page 23!)
Kenneth Frampton, critical regionalism essayist, is speaking on globalization in Cambridge next week. Can't wait!
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