Population Growth Patterns in Metro Areas, 2000-16

[Torie]

Fantastic maps. What is the theory as to why the population increases in the NYC exurbs stopped, and then reversed, around 2010? 

There is this serious proposal that is getting traction in Congress to levy a carbon charge, which then goes back to the residents pro rata, so that those who use less carbon make money, and those who use a lot lose money. It is a carbon fuel severance charge when the carbon fuel is extracted from the earth in the US (there is some sort of carbon unit amount that is calculated), or with respect to imported goods in an amount based on the amount of carbon fuel to fabricate them. The tax increases annually, slowly getting higher and higher and higher, in 15 cent increments annually (that would be the amount approximately per gallon of gasoline). If that comes down the pike, over time, the exurbs will really take a hit, assuming folks living there on average have longer commutes. Places like Montana won't do well either, unless remote rural areas get some relief from the regime.

Both conservative and liberal economists like this proposal, because it is market driven, and does not give any money to the government net. Rather it creates an incentive for consumers to use less carbon, as they make substitutions in the basket of goods that they purchase.