19 Nov 2002 Environmental Justice Study to Be Released November 21

A new econometrics report will be released at a November 21 Washington policy conference by the Center for Environmental Justice of The National Center for Public Policy Research.

The study, “Smart Growth and Its Effects on Housing Markets” examined this question: if cities nationwide had adopted “smart growth” policies like those of Portland, Oregon, ten years ago, what would have been the impact on minority Americans and our most economically disadvantaged populations?

Portland’s smart growth policies have been heralded by environmentalists as a model for the nation.

The study also examines the impact of Portland-style sprawl restrictions on commuting times, congestion, the need for new infrastructure and the preservation of open, “green” space, and other related issues.

The study was completed under the direction of Randall Pozdena, Ph.D. by QuantEcon, an econometrics firm in Portland, Oregon, for the Center for Environmental Justice of The National Center for Public Policy Research, a non-profit, non-partisan Capitol Hill think-tank established in 1982. No corporate or housing industry funds were used to finance or to publicize the study. In 2001, just 2.6% of The National Center’s $5.8 million budget was derived from corporate contributions.