Urban planning

Back to the subject of urban planning. Developed countries may argue that their small cities are the result of good urban planning. It can be said that unionism rather than urban planning is one of the reasons why cities in developed countries did not explode. Also, it must be kept in mind that the industrial revolution started in these countries. They had to deal with strong unions right from the start. They had over a century to come to terms with the problem of urban planning. Countries with strong unions eventually spread their industry to dilute unions' power. In this process, the population also spread to other areas.

Take as an example an industrialized country with 61 million inhabitants-- former West Germany with total area of 250,000 square kilometers. Darmstadt and its surroundings in the state of North Rhein Westphalen is a megalopolis that failed to develop proper urban planning. The Germans moved their industry from the Ruhr Valley down to Baden-Wurtenberg and Bavaria running away from strong unions. With a first class transport infrastructure the mittlestand industry instead of being concentrated in pockets, was spread all over the country. If driving through the autobahn one will always see a line of those canvas-covered expedition trucks hauling goods and parts in between factories.

Industry in North America, in fact, also ran away from strong unions. Modern industry was not developed in the Rust Belt. It went to green field sites in the south, to the west coast, or around Boston. This pattern continues even today.

By the same token, where is the Sao Paulo megalopolis, a developing country with 14 million inhabitants and 743 square kilometers, coming from and where is it going?

OSVALDO COELHO

Bandung, West Java