Urban Sprawl and Intergenerational Mobility: City- and Neighborhood-Level Effects of Sprawl.

This article examines the relationship between urban sprawl and intergenerational economic mobility in the United States, analyzing data at both the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and census tract levels. Using a multilevel model and sprawl indices that capture factors such as density, land use mix, activity centering, and street accessibility, the study finds that increased sprawl at both city and neighborhood scales is significantly associated with decreased upward mobility for children from low-income families. The negative effects of sprawl are linked to reduced accessibility to jobs and services, lower social cohesion, and segregation, though these effects do not hold for children from higher-income families, suggesting conflicting incentives across income groups. The findings highlight the importance of city-level planning policies that promote compact development, mixed land use, and improved accessibility to enhance economic opportunities, particularly for disadvantaged populations.