
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
The Unheavenly City Revisited
About this book
Big cities so often appear to have terrible problems, and Americans have a long history of convincing themselves that urban areas are in crises and that the federal government must do something to improve matters.
Edward C. Banfield argues the conventional wisdom is incorrect. In The Unheavenly City Revisited, he presents rigorous analyses showing that “by any conceivable measure of material welfare the present generation of urban Americans is, on the whole, better off than any other large group of people has ever been anywhere.” He furthermore argues that there is little evidence that the billions of dollars of government spending is improving matters. Indeed, well-intended government actions have proved harmful in some instances.
The Unheavenly City Revisited cautions policymakers that their biases may affect their perceptions of America’s metropolitan areas. Improving the lives of people in cities through government action is an exceedingly complex enterprise. Government officials and citizens alike must be realists about what government action can achieve.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- Foreword to the 2025 Edition
- Preface to The Unheavenly City Revisited
- Preface to The Unheavenly City
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Logic of Metropolitan Growth
- 3. The Imperatives of Class
- 4. Race: Thinking May Make It So
- 5. The Problem of Unemployment
- 6. Several Kinds of Poverty
- 7. Schooling versus Education
- 8. Several Kinds of Crime
- 9. Rioting Mainly for Fun and Profit
- 10. The Future of the Lower Class
- 11. What Can Be Done?
- 12. The Prospect
- Appendix A. Note on the Size of the Social Classes
- Appendix B. Select List of Writings Pertaining to The Unheavenly City
- Notes
- About the Author
- Back Cover