Alternative Futures and Distributional Planning
- 1 January 1972
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of the American Institute of Planners
- Vol. 38 (1) , 25-32
- https://doi.org/10.1080/01944367208977400
Abstract
This paper contributes to the debate on urban planning methodology in three areas. It evaluates urban macro models, finding that by their very nature they cannot provide planners with answers to important classes of questions. Second, it reviews the expansion of concern in urban planning to encompass all contemporary problem areas and suggests that the tendency to “make everything endogeneous” is best constrained through the use of an “alternative futures” methodology. Third, it suggests that to avoid overly conjectural abstract planning, distributional cost-benefit studies which stress program diffusion effects and estimate needed compensatory side payments be used more extensively in conjunction with such “alternative futures” planning. Examples are drawn from the author's own work and the general literature to support the validity of the methodological approach advocated.Keywords
This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- Alternative Forms Of Future Urban Growth in The United StatesJournal of the American Institute of Planners, 1970
- Reflections on Advocacy PlanningJournal of the American Institute of Planners, 1968
- Computer Simulation in Urban ResearchPublic Administration Review, 1968
- A RETAIL MARKET POTENTIAL MODELJournal of the American Institute of Planners, 1965
- A MODEL FOR SIMULATING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTJournal of the American Institute of Planners, 1965
- A GROWTH ALLOCATION MODEL FOR THE EOSTON REGIONJournal of the American Institute of Planners, 1965
- AN OPPORTUNITY-ACCESSIEILITY MODEL FOR ALLOCATING REGIONAL GROWTHJournal of the American Institute of Planners, 1965
- The Housing of Relocated FamiliesJournal of the American Institute of Planners, 1964
- Planning and Decision TheoryJournal of the American Institute of Planners, 1961
- A MODEL FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF RESIDENTIAL ACTIVITY IN URBAN AREAS.‡Journal of Regional Science, 1960