Why Does the World's Richest Country Have So Many Failed Cities?

By Carl Schramm

A century ago our nation was famous around the world for creating beautiful cities. Now, we are known for failing cities. In a recent 60 Minutes report, Bob Simon noted that after he left what passes for sparks of new life in downtown, the rest of Detroit reminded him of Mogadishu - "the worst place I've ever been." A failing city, we have at least 25, is one that can never expect to return to its former prosperity. Soon Detroit's population will be one-third of what it was in 1960; there is no chance it will ever boast two million again.  While Detroit's problems are specific in their particulars, cities like Baltimore, Cleveland, Toledo, Scranton and Hartford share histories of similar policy choices that drove their continuous downward spiral. [more...]