The Emerging Social Metropolis

This monograph examines whether integrated administration and planning of metropolitan regions is desirable or feasible. Particular attention is paid to issues arising from the management of rapid population growth. Distinctions are drawn between the characteristics of single and two-tier authorities, and directly and indirectly elected ones as means to achieve effective and responsive local and metropolitan government. The experiences of five New World metropolitan regions are reviewed: Greater Toronto and Vancouver, Greater Seattle, Metropolitan Portland, and the Auckland Region. Chapter 1 discusses significant problems associated with rapid metropolitan growth and describes the study areas. Chapter 2 examines issues of population growth management and metropolitan form and access. Chapter 3 considers the extent to which these metropolitan governments have been able to balance and harmonize the needs for healthy physical and prosperous economic environments. Chapters 4 and 5 assess the study areas' performance in social policy and administrative organization.
The concluding chapter draws together earlier material to produce proposals designed to meet the needs of the increasingly metropolitan-based life of the Twenty-first century for integrated demographic, spatial, environmental, economic and social planning and administration.
 
This monograph examines whether integrated administration and planning of metropolitan regions is desirable or feasible. Particular attention is paid to issues arising from the management of rapid population growth. Distinctions are drawn between the characteristics of single and two-tier authorities, and directly and indirectly elected ones as means to achieve effective and responsive local and metropolitan government. The experiences of five New World metropolitan regions are reviewed: Greater Toronto and Vancouver, Greater Seattle, Metropolitan Portland, and the Auckland Region. Chapter 1 discusses significant problems associated with rapid metropolitan growth and describes the study areas. Chapter 2 examines issues of population growth management and metropolitan form and access. Chapter 3 considers the extent to which these metropolitan governments have been able to balance and harmonize the needs for healthy physical and prosperous economic environments. Chapters 4 and 5 assess the study areas' performance in social policy and administrative organization.
The concluding chapter draws together earlier material to produce proposals designed to meet the needs of the increasingly metropolitan-based life of the Twenty-first century for integrated demographic, spatial, environmental, economic and social planning and administration.