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The thing about cities is that they’re more economically efficient at the macro level. Sprawl adds transportation and distribution costs, infrastructure costs, etc. Plus the cost of converting land into residential uses, probably forever preempting it’s use for any other economic activity.

If cities are more economically efficient why does it cost so much more to live there? If the subways charged what they really cost they would be far more expensive than automobiles. Cities are fine for housing the welfare class, the promiscuous, the illegal drug seekers, and they do well as work hubs, except companies are fleeing them because of high costs, taxes, and regulation. The city work hub is being replaced by the internet hub that enables workers to be widely dispersed. NYC's population would be declining if not for the imports from third world countries. The people that can afford to move out are voting with their feet.

If cities are more economically efficient why does it cost so much more to live there? If the subways charged what they really cost they would be far more expensive than automobiles.

Cities cost more because mostly because of large government unions. Also because of the many social services that are little to nonexistent in the suburbs. Subways aren't nearly as cheap as they use to be as the city governments are being squeezed by pension costs. This has resulted in public transportation to pickup more of their own tab. I do remember years ago when I bought my first car at age 28. I had more freedom but my spending power went down significantly.

If cities are more economically efficient why does it cost so much more to live there?

That's easy. It costs more because people make the economic judgement that it's worth paying extra for what the city provides, like proximity to jobs and services.

If the subways charged what they really cost they would be far more expensive than automobiles.

And what would happen if all the people riding the New York City subway or the Chicago El started driving individual cars? What would hundreds of thousands of additional cars on the streets at rush hour, needing parking, cost the economy?

The city work hub is being replaced by the internet hub that enables workers to be widely dispersed.

Yeah, when that internet janitor app is perfected, it's gonna be great! But seriously, never gonna happen.Employers who have tried it are rolling it back.

NYC's population would be declining if not for the imports from third world countries.

I'll be someone could have said that every year since 1800 and thought it especially true.

The people that can afford to move out are voting with their feet.

Aren't you the one who said it costs more to live there? But the answer is that they're paying extra for certain benefits like space, better schools, and so on.