The Conversation - Why cities need families

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I grew up in Washington, D.C., riding the public bus to school and going to Smithsonian museums on weekends. I’ve also raised two kids in the Boston area.

So when I read about young families leaving large U.S. cities at high rates, I wondered what that meant for places like San Francisco, Chicago and, yes, Boston, where the share of the population under age 18 is dramatically falling compared with past decades.

As Iowa State University economist Biswa Das explains, this trend isn’t good news. That’s because young families help create lively communities. They advocate for high-quality public services, and their spending and tax payments help fund public investments. The good news is that by investing strategically in areas like affordable housing, school systems and public spaces, cities can keep young families in town.

[ Science from the scientists themselves. Sign up for our weekly science email newsletter. ]

Jennifer Weeks

Senior Environment + Cities Editor

Parents and educators rally at Boston City Hall demanding urgent action to improve the city’s public schools. Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Young families are leaving many large US cities − here’s why that matters

Biswa Das, Iowa State University

Although many US cities have recovered from economic downturns during the COVID-19 pandemic, they still are losing young families in large numbers. Here’s how that trend degrades urban life.

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