Los Angeles Metropatterns: Social Separation and Sprawl in the Los Angeles Region

Abstract:     
This research identifies the suburban typology of Los Angeles, California through a study of the social and fiscal disparities within the region. Municipal tax base and other demographic data, such as poverty rates measured at the school-level, are used to show wide variations in the capacities of suburban municipalities to provide local public services. The results show clear signs of current fiscal and social stress in the region. A range of regional fiscal, planning, and governance reforms are also evaluated.

Keywords: Los Angeles, sprawl, metropolitan, land use, planning structural reform, polarization, governmental reform, regional equity, infrastructure, sprawl, transportation

JEL Classification: E61, E62, H20, H71, H73, I22, J10, O10, O20, R10

working papers series