Why Families Are Fleeing Big Cities (The Future Is Suburban)

As housing costs soar and birth rates collapse, the future of the West may depend on something politicians have spent decades resisting: dispersion—the movement of people toward suburbs and exurbs where they can afford homes, raise families, and build wealth. This video explores why the “Dispersionist Era” may be the only sustainable path forward, drawing on research from MIT, the International Energy Agency, the Federal Reserve, and demographic studies across Europe and North America. We break down: Why Millennials and immigrants overwhelmingly prefer spacious, affordable homes How modern technology can make suburbs more sustainable than cities How working from home reduces emissions and congestion Why family formation depends on housing affordability How high-density policies worsen fertility collapse Why families are leaving California, New York, Sydney, Toronto, and London for more affordable regions What’s at stake if we fail to accommodate the desire for ownership Rather than shaming suburban living, policymakers must recognise it as the foundation of a dynamic, sustainable society. 👉 Read Joel Kotkin’s full essay at Quillette: https://quillette.com/2024/06/19/the-road-to-neo-feudalism/ ----- Quillette is an Australian-based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values. Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology. Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge modern orthodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship. --- Quillette's revenue comes from our readers. We are a grassroots organisation that relies on voluntary subscriptions and community membership as our primary revenue stream. Support Quillette by becoming a subscriber: https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup Or donate send us a one-off tip: https://quillette.com/#/portal/support We made our website using Ghost, a powerful app for new-media creators to publish, share, and grow a business around their content. It comes with modern tools to build a website, publish content, send newsletters & offer paid subscriptions to members. Try it here: https://ghost.org/?via=claire91