Recent Blog Posts

Urban growth of the past 30 years has largely resulted in crowded slums and sprawling settlements in the urban fringe. Cities are consuming land, increasingly, to accommodate new developments. In some regions, urban land has grown much faster than the urban population, resulting in less dense and, in general, more inefficient land use patterns. In addition, this is often happening in the absence of a viable spatial structure. Follow this link to read the rest of the story. Sourced from UN Habitat

With the advent of facial recognition technology in products like iPhones, and recent data breaches at major companies such as Facebook, concern over the effects of AI in daily human life is as strong as ever. A survey released last week by Washington-based Brookings Institute shows America’s fear of automation is alive and well. Follow this link to read the complete article.

Sourced from Government Technology
Stagnant incomes, declining employment, downward mobility, and more: Eleanor Krause and Isabel Sawhill discuss the trends that have Brookings experts concerned about the well-being of America’s middle class. Learn more about the new Future of the Middle Class Initiative. Sourced from Brookings

Newly released census data for city population growth through 2017 show that what I and others previously heralded as the “decade of the city” may be less valid during the waning years of the 2010s. While most big cities are still gaining population, the rates of that gain are falling off for many of them as the nation’s population shows signs of broad dispersal. Follow this link to read the complete article.

Sourced from Brookings
Each year, mayors across the nation detail their vision for their city’s future in a seminal address — their state of the city speech. These speeches have taken on new significance as mayors emerge as focal points in the intergovernmental context. While many state and federal partners are mired in political gridlock or actively disinvesting in cities, mayors consistently demonstrate the capacity and willingness to solve complex problems that are shaped by local realities and have broad national implications. Follow this link to access the complete report. Sourced from CitiesSpeak
Smart wheelchairs, speakers that can turn on lights and other technology will be considered as part of care plans for Ohioans with developmental disabilities under an executive order signed Thursday by Gov. John Kasich. Follow this link to read the complete article. Sourced from Government Technology
For the first time since the Great Recession of the late 2000s, the fiscal position of the states is looking bright. The economy is growing more rapidly than anytime over the last decade, causing state revenues to rebound, and many states will see additional revenues as a result of last year's federal tax overhaul. Follow this link to read the complete article. Sourced from Governing
Remember white flight? A few generations ago, millions of white Americans left major cities for the suburbs. Their departures were aided, in part, by the growth of the highway system. But they were also motivated by race, as schools and neighborhoods started to desegregate. Now that more minorities are moving into the suburbs themselves -- a majority of minority residents of major metropolitan areas now live in suburbs, according to the Brookings Institution -- white flight is happening all over again. Follow this link to read the complete article. Sourced from Governing  
Academics are starting to disagree about whether low-income children actually hear fewer words than wealthy children by age 4—known as the “30 million word gap”—undercutting significant intervention efforts to close achievement gaps in early development. Follow this link to read the complete story. Sourced from Brookings  

Pages