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By Ahlfeldt, G., Pietrostefani, E., Schumann, A., & Matsumoto, T.
Full Citation
Ahlfeldt, G., Pietrostefani, E., Schumann, A., & Matsumoto, T. (2018). Demystifying compact urban growth: Evidence from 300 studies from across the world. Paris: OECD.
Key Findings
This report analyses more than 300 academic papers that study the effects of compact urban form as advocated by New Urbanism, and finds that 69% of the papers reviewed find positive effects associated with compact urban form. Over 70% of studies find positive effects of economic density (the number of people living or working in an area). A smaller majority of studies attribute positive effects to mixed land use (58%) and the density of the built environment (56%). The major benefits of economic density arise from improved productivity and better access to jobs and services. Further benefits are generated through the preservation of urban green space, greater energy efficiency, pollution reduction and safer urban environments.