Big Government
I studied the relationship between politics and local economies
I looked at the role of the government in shoring up certain neighborhoods and letting others decay
In particular, I analyzed Residential Security Maps (courtesy of the HOLC)
Who is David Harvey?
I reject the idea that inequalities are natural
I argue that multiple perspectives/narratives have validity
What is Postmodernism?
This is when economic growth comes at the expense of the environment and quality of life
Sometimes, this is countered by Anti-Growth Coalitions
What is Logan & Molotch's Growth Machine?
I argue that while some cities have experienced a rebirth, this is felt unevenly. Some cities have experienced serious decline as activities move out to the suburbs.
What is Giffels's Rustbelt?
This is when certain neighborhoods were targeted for disinvestment, often on the basis of race and ethnicity
This had long-lasting deleterious effects on investment in these neighborhoods
What is Redlining?
This has four key principles
- Growth/form of cities is due to decisions by those with wealth and power
- City growth involves conflict over the distribution of resources
- The government plays an important role in affecting these issues
- Changes occur in cities as economies changes (manufacturing economy --> service economy)
What is Urban Political Economy?
This was when, on a regional scale, manufacturers began shifting out of US cities to more hinterland areas
This was also when new markets and free trade allowed access to foreign labor markets
What is Deindustrialization?
I argue that cities exist in a local, regional, national, and international context, thus they must be studied at all levels.
What is the Nested City Model?
This is federally sponsored slum-clearance
This often targeted already suffering communities
This also strengthened existing inequalities
What is Urban Renewal?
I argued that decision makers and investors view space in the abstract sense, while others think of it in the social sense
Who is Henri Lefebvre?
This is the shift from an industrial economy/cities to a service economy/cities
This creates a demand for more educated workers
What is Economic Restructuring?
Poverty used to be a more rural phenomenon, but it is now becoming more urban
What is Global Urban Poverty (trends in)?
This is the ability of the government to take private property for public purposes
It was often used to leverage private investment using early versions of public-private partnerships
Often this was used to bulldoze poor communities of color, who were then moved to public housing
What is Eminent Domain?
I talk about how Sunbelt migration negatively affects Frostbelt cities that are losing population
I also talk about increasing Sunbelt city population isn't all sunshine and roses. These cities often experience overburdened infrastructure and services.
Who is Bluestone & Harrison?
I analyze how certain cities become "command points" for the world economy (meaning they are global cities)
What is World Systems Analysis?
This is housing that is not legal or built to any code
It is often self-built in undesirable locations
What is Informal Housing?
This was when urban whites left areas with growing black populations
What is White Flight?
This is a multidisciplinary perspective that examines power, injustice, exploitation, social movements, and political economy
What is Critical Urban Theory?
This is basically an outdoor shopping mall that caters to tourists
What is a Festival Marketplace?