City Livin'

There is a general inclination to think of cities as dirty pollution centers that contribute to environmental degradation and global warming. However, the most recent Freakonomics podcast with Edward Glaeser does a great job of explaining how cities are, in fact, the most green, nature-friendly type of human living environment. Per capita, the denser the city the less a person's carbon emission, due in part to less driving and smaller average home size. Further, the greater percentage of individuals living in dense urban areas, the less overall land that is required for development.

Glaeser goes on to discuss how the Federal government discourages city living (and thus green living) through home ownership subsidies, an extensive national highway system and a non-competitive public school system.

Why Cities Rock Podcast

Glaeser's Book