FAQ?

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "Alan Patrick"
wrote:
> > This is based off of historical models on how cities grow,
expand,
> > and rot, and having worked in the local county planning office.
>
> Overall I'd agree with your premise, though the wave lengths may
not be the
> ones you describe and/or may not be constant....be fascinated to
see the
> historical models you mention though, as game theory / system
dynamics of
> human activity fascinates me too.

This is why, even though it's called the Three Generations Rule,
it's really the Two to Five Generations Rule.

The first place to start is the writings of Moorish philosopher ibn-
Khaldun. Then look at the US census reports for cities in 10 year
snapshots from about 1920 or so. Finally, look at "Cities in
Peril", a periodically updated screed/paper (depending on which side
of the fence you're on) about urban renewal and the problems of
cities. - most cities over about 100,000 people start consuming more
tax dollars than they generate in revenue, though this gets muddied
with transactional costs.