Document 2844538

Urban Form in
America and Europe
Pietro S. Nivola
Senior Fellow
Governance Studies
The Brookings Institution
Fundamentals

Space
Source: Center for International Earth Science Information Network,
Columbia University

Demography

Population Growth
Source: OECD

Demography

Age Profile
United States
France
Children (under 15)
United
Kingdom
Adults (15-64)
Seniors (over 65)
Germany
Italy
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Source: OECD

Demography

Mobility
Over one in ten
Americans moved in
2008 (38.7 million
people)
Mobility patterns:
Within County
(65%)
New County,
Same State
(19%)
Different State
(13%)
International (3%)
Source: US Census Bureau
The Economy

GDP
Per Capita Gross Domestic Product (inflation adjusted USD)
50000
45000
40000
35000
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
France
Germany
Italy
United Kingdom
United States
19
70
19
73
19
76
19
79
19
82
19
85
19
88
19
91
19
94
19
97
20
00
20
03
20
06

Source: OECD
Policy Distinctions

Agricultural Subsidies
Source: OECD

Transportation Policy
Allocation of Transportation Spending
(as share of total ground transportation
spending)
United States
Untied Kingdom
Public
Transit
Roads and
Road-Related
Expenses
Public
Transit
Roads
and
RoadRelated
Expenses
Source: US Department of Transportation, UK Department for Transport

Energy Prices and Taxes
Unleaded Gas Prices and Taxes (2008, Q1)
Source: The Brookings Institution

Energy Prices and Taxes
Automotive Diesel Prices and Taxes (2008, Q1)
Source: The Brookings Institution

Energy Prices and Taxes
Electricity Prices for Households (U.S. Dollars per Kilowatt-hour)
0.25
0.2
France
0.15
Germany
Italy
0.1
United Kingdom
United States
0.05
0
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Source: OECD
Percent of Trips Taken by Various Modes of Transportation
Auto Public Transit Bicycle Other
(includes
walking)
Auto
Trips Per
Transit
Trip
United
States
89
2
1
7
44.5
Great
Britain
65
14
4
17
4.6
France
56
13
5
25
4.5
Germany
49
16
12
23
3.1
Source: Sprawl in Europe and America, Michael Lewyn, 46 San Diego L. Rev. 85
Vehicle Kilometers Driven (per capita, 2003)
10000
9000
8000
7000
8829
6000
5000
6286
6299
6313
United Kingdom
Germany
France
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
United States
Source: Transportation: A Geographical Analysis, by William Richard Black, pp. 39

Education
Per Capita Education Expenditure
(Annual expenditure per student, in USD)
Source: US Department of Education
High School Math and Science Scores
International Comparisons
530
520
510
500
490
480
470
460
450
440
430
Science
Math
U.K.
Germany
France
United
States
Italy
Source: The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), 2006.
The Urban-Suburban Education Gap in America
MCAS Composite
Over 95%
90-95%
80-89%
Under 80%
Sources: The New York Times, Mass. State Board of Education
So What?

Big Foot
Energy Consumption: Total energy
consumption per capita
Units: Kilograms of oil equivalent (kgoe) per person
9,000
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
1990
2000
France
Germany
United Kingdom
United States
2005
Italy
Source: IEA Statistics Division, Energy Balances of OECD Countries (2008 edition).
Metric tons of CO2 per capita
Carbon Footprint: International Comparison
Carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), metric tons of
CO2 per capita (UNFCCC)
25
20
France
Germany
15
Italy
10
United Kingdom
United States
5
0
90
9
1
92
9
1
94
9
1
96
9
1
98
9
1
00
0
2
02
0
2
04
0
2
06
0
2
Source: United Nations

What To Do?


Shopworn “Solutions”
Emulate Europe? No and Yes