Hunker, Henry L.

English

University of New Mexico

Volume 11 
Issue 1 Winter 1971 
Winter 1971 
Perloff and Wingo, Issues in Urban Economics 
Henry L. Hunker 
Recommended Citation 
Henry L. Hunker, Perloff and Wingo, Issues in Urban Economics, 11 Nat. Resources J. 198 (1971). 
Available at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/nrj/vol11/iss1/12 
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Issues in Urban Economics
By
HARVEY S. PERLOFF and LOWDON WINGO, JR.
Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press for Resources for the Future. 1968
Pp. x, 668, $15.00
It is perhaps symptomatic of the times that a volume dealing with
major issues facing urban society today should be reviewed in a
journal concerned with natural resources. This may reflect the fact
that, in the broadest sense, the urban society is a part of the nation's
resource base. Certainly the allocation of space to various uses and
the utilization of resources are discussed in this publication, although
the authors' concern is hardly restricted to an evaluation of these
matters in terms of the natural environment alone. In another light,
the presence of this review may show that the problems confronting
urban society are, in reality, problems of the total society. Surely an
understanding of the issues rooted in an urban setting is vital to those
who would be well-informed about society generally.
This volume, essentially a collection of 16 papers, is the product
of the highly creative minds of several economists and planners.
These papers were presented at a conference in 1967 sponsored by
the Committee on Urban Economics of Resources for the Future.
The editors suggest that the collection climaxes eight years of effort
... to advance the field of urban economics. . . ." Here in one
volume is a thoughtful discussion of many of the major economic
and policy issues confronting the cities. Because there has been rel-
atively little published that so effectively presents the case, this
volume serves an important need. It can be read profitably both by
professionals and by students of urban economics. One is inclined to
agree that the editors' goal may have been achieved. The papers do
successfully ". . . propagate the excitement of what is to be dis-
covered in the coming years that can change the nature of cities."
These papers are more significant for the issues they raise than for
the findings presented. The variety of ideas put forth by the several
authors is most valuable, especially with respect to the research alter-
natives uncovered. But because numerous issues are discussed and
because a tight organizational pattern is missing, it is virtually im-
possible to single out papers for individual comment.
The basic approach is the recognition of urban economics as a
field of interest which centers upon policy issues that relate to the
vitality of the cities. Subjects include the economic growth and stag-
nation of cities, transportation problems, the impact of national
policies and expenditures upon local government, urban development
BOOK REVIEWS
policy, and others. The focus of these papers is upon the American
city, but the findings may be applied in other areas as well.
The book is divided into four parts, each treating a major theme
from several points of view: Part I is a consideration of The Urban
Community Within the National Economy; Part II looks at Intra-
metropolitan Development from several vantage points; Part III con-
siders The Urban Public Economy; and Part IV centers upon Policy
Issues in the urban setting. The writers are highly individualistic and
the papers self-contained. Each paper has a comprehensive bibliog-
raphy.
In a sense, Part IV, which consists of a single paper on "Public
Policy for Urban America," most effectively brings together the ideas
generated elsewhere in the book. Public policy considerations play a
major role in shaping the development of urban economics. Policy
decisions may strongly affect the principal areas of urban research,
specifically studies in transportation and poverty. The questions of
how urban policy is shaped and how it is responded to are stressed.
Although the authors recognize that a federal urban policy may
not be realistic, they indicate that a broad-scale regional planning
program may make sense, especially with such "hard" programs as
urban renewal or mass transit. Ultimately, they question the leader-
ship that has been available to initiate and carry through urban pro-
grams. One might also question the adequacy of traditional concepts
and tools used in dealing with core issues.
Issues in Urban Economics raises more questions than it answers.
It provides insight into a range of socio-economic problems confront-
ing society at the policy level. It also offers ideas and tech-
niques, both old and new (such as econometric models and regional
projections), to clarify the issues while challenging the reader and,
ultimately, society. The editors declare that economists have long
been guilty of ". . . only nibbling at the edges" with respect to these
issues. In all fairness, isn't this the guilt of society at large?
HENRY L. HUNKER*
*Professor of Geography and Director of the Center for Community and Regional Anal-
ysis, Ohio State University.
January 19711


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