Economic growth lead to the suburbs. Everyone gets their big pickup truck to enjoy on the open, expensive roads, back to their small plot of land fed by expensive infrastructure.
All this uses a ton of energy and creates a lot of pollution. Pollution which has drastically increased in the last 20 years or so.
Economic growth leads to per-capita carbon emission growth. The US emmits the second most carbon into the atmosphere, only beat out by the place that makes all the things purchased in the US, in a way, an extension of the consumption of the US.
When economic growth makes consumption cheaper, there is a countering effect of waste, pollution, and over-extension. Dense cities use far less energy and resources than suburbs. Its a fact.
The constant quest for growth, economic or otherwise, has put us in a very precarious position. Summer 2024 is going to be one hellova ride.
Look at how 100 year old suburbs are structured compared to newer ones.
Typically a lot tighter, designed to walk to nearby destinations, mixed use so you can live near a store, not drive 10 miles to a parking lot the size of a small village.
You cannot deny that older, "streetcar" suburbs are very distinct from modern suburb design.
If they were basically the same, I wouldn't be complaining.
