Urban Concerns in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Countries: An Overview

摘要

This paper provides an overview of urban concerns in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries and discusses some common public policy problems. A historical perspective and conceptual framework for analyzing member countries' urban problems is presented, followed by an analysis of how these urban trends and concerns relate to and are affected by the changing international economy and national structural economic changes. General urbanization trends are described, and the phenomena of urban decline, unemployment, fiscal stress, physical and environmental problems, social concerns, and aspects of urban growth are examined. The role of governments and public programs in dealing with these problems is assessed, and emerging urban policy issues for the 1980's are defined as they related to specifically urban problems, not merely problems that occur in cities. The basic premise is the recognition that current urban concerns in OECD countries stem from a series of linked, causal interactions beginning with technological and economic changes which have altered the international economic system and the structural composition of national economies and have affected urbanization trends and the physical form of cities. Extensive tabular data and footnotes are provided. (Author abstract modified).