Let Rust Belt Cities Die?

The latest from a junior professor who lives in Texas and thinks rust belt cities need to die off, or at least go fallow.

In The Atlantic, Professor Galen Newman of Texas A & M opines on his vacant land research.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/07/rust-belt-survival/492155/

The research has led to a discussion of "smart shrinkage" and "smart decline."

http://www.plannersnetwork.org/2010/04/smart-decline-and-planning-ideology/

We cannot ignore this kind of thinking, as it might influence politicians, and new solutions are needed. Detroit has something approaching 60 square miles of wasteland, so this is not so far fetched. 

We do not have to surrender though.

Unless there is some drastic change in Washington, the rust belt economies are in trouble for a long, long time.

Not something to make one cheerful.