What's interesting, however, is that in America the most prosperous metros tend to be the most sprawled out. All of the hot cities of the '90s and '00s were sprawl monsters. Where we failed is that we sprawled despite decades of relative economic stagnation.

Cities like Novi and Macomb Township probably should've never happened, but they did because our current laws allow people with enough money to avoid the long-term costs of infrastructure by moving to newer municipalities on the outskirts of the urban area. The combo of more real estate and less taxes is too much to resist, plus you get the benefit of less crime because most newer housing units are too expensive for those with lower incomes to afford. As long as you don't mind longer commutes, it's a win-win, and the commutes are often kept just within reason because many employers move to the fringes for the same benefits.