Plain English with Derek Thompson

How American Cities Can Avoid the ‘Urban Doom Loop’

Apr 18, 2023

Dror Poleg, author and advisor specializing in urban futures, joins the conversation to explore the challenges facing American cities post-pandemic. He highlights the dangerous 'urban doom loop' as downtowns struggle with rising vacancy rates and declining economic activity. The discussion covers the shift towards suburban growth, the impacts of remote work on office use, and the financial strains on commercial real estate. Poleg advocates for innovative urban design to reimagine spaces, emphasizing inclusivity and community revitalization in a changing landscape.

01:10:12

Episode guests

Dror Poleg

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

4min

The Shifting Landscape of American Downtowns

3min

Urban Migration and Economic Transformation

18min

Financial Turmoil in Real Estate and Banking

9min

Rethinking Urban Spaces Post-COVID

21min

The Remote Work Revolution

10min

The Double-Edged Sword of Performative Culture

2min

Today’s episode is about the future of the American city. Many downtowns are "wounded renditions of their once-robust selves." Offices are empty. Commercial real estate is losing value, pulling down municipal tax revenue. Fewer commuters means less transit revenue. Fewer downtown shoppers means less downtown employment. This has led some economists to worry about an "urban doom loop." Dror Poleg, an author and adviser who writes about the future of cities, talks about the knock-on effects of urban change on finance, work, real estate, and technology.

Host: Derek Thompson

Guest: Dror Poleg

Producer: Devon Manze

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