Factors Influencing Patterns of Growth Following WWII

Land use, regional growth and development are affected by a number of factors, such as

• Markets
• Federal policies
• Regional and state policies
• Local laws and practices
• Actions of developers, real estate investors
• Lending practices

We will examine several key historical federal influences because they reveal the potential for changes in federal policy to allow or encourage state and local alternatives. Federal initiatives in transportation, environmental stewardship, housing policy and education policy all have the potential to encourage smart growth where decisions are made on the ground by municipalities, regions, towns, tribes and states.