The Balanced Community: Homogeneity or Heterogeneity in Residential Areas?

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Abstract
The discussioiz of the relation between population homogeneity and social-life values, begun in an earlier article, is here extended to the larger question of the desirability of the balanced, or heterogeneous, community. A number of planners have advocated population heterogeneity as a means for achieving four sets of cultural, political, and educational ends or values. This article discusses each of the means-ends relationships, concluding that population heterogeneity contributes relatively little toivard the achievement of these values. Nevertheless, heterogeneity is desirable, because as long as local taxation is the main support of community services, it will help to prevent undesirable inequalities in the level of community services. It is not, however, the best means of alleviating the glaring social and economic inequality noiv rampant in most metropolitan areas, and planners are therefore urged to place greater emphasis on policies that will reduce this inequality. The increased opportunity for all sectors of the population to make social and cultural choices in a more cqualitarian society may also bring about greater heterogeneity in residential areas in the future.

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