Economic Development and Its Influence on the Environment: Urbanization, Infrastructure and Land Use Planning Systems

Abstract

In this study typical mutual relationships between land use, transport, energy consumption and the environment are formulated and examined by means of a comparison of 4 metropolitan areas: London, Tokyo, Nagoya and Bangkok. These cities are chosen as they are considered to be at different stages of economic development, urbanisation and motorisation. Aspects considered include fuel price, energy consumption, suburbanisation, trip length, congestion, air pollution, infrastructure investment and planning systems. The authors conclude that the coexisting negative feedback of suburbanisation and motorisation have a mutual or reverse multiplier effect causing a continuous increase in transport energy consumption. For the covering abstract see IRRD 883195.