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IIRC Boston’s CSA has a larger area than it’s entire state as it includes
most of southern New Hampshire, all of Rhode Island and even part of CT.
Boston CSA is 8 million....more than entire population of Massachusetts (6.8 million)
Boston MSA is 4.6 million...more realistic,
in reality Boston is just slightly larger than Montreal.
Boston CSA would have you believe Boston is larger than Toronto, LOL.
In reality Toronto is slightly smaller than Chicago.
When CSA’s are that huge it makes it hard to compare US cities with
cities in other countries, it becomes like comparing apples and oranges.
For example, Montreal has a metro population of about 4.1 million
and people comparing it with US cities place it at a lower tier than it should be,
imo should be compare with US cities at about 5 million population level.
Now to answer your two questions...
Why are they grossly over stated? ....could it be a bit to do with
american personality...likes to brag....my city is the biggest, baddest city...
Are they (CSA’s) credible for you (me)?
No they a bit of BS really.
CSAs are defined by the Census Bureau for determining block grants to local governments. They aren't done to "brag." What a silly post by someone who clearly knows little about the topic. American personality? Stop projecting your insecurities.
Amercans like to travel by plane and have the perfect combo of large population...320 million,
big country ...3.8 million square miles...affluent....and widely spaced cities...
that is why they have the busiest airports...they don’t even need international travelers included in
the stats...most of it is domestic travel anyway...that’s why Atlanta’s airport leads the world
in passengers...a major US hub...HQ for major airline Delts doesn’t hurt either, not many
are actually travelling to “see” Atlanta....just passing thru
As for GDP ...much like US CSA’s ...again a bit of US bragging...they pump up GDP stats
“goose” them a bit....Those US GDP’s most likely take in the largest area they can.
Atlanta’s GDP is indicated as being 324 billion US dollars...
Toronto’s GDP is indicated as 304 billion US dollars (conversion from Canadian dollars hurts it)
I think Totonto’s GDP is measured from a smaller geographic area than for US cities...
as Province of Ontario GDP is about $750 billion and Ontario has a population of about 14 million,
Metro Toronto is about 6 million...so I think it is calculated from that...
if Toronto had a CSA ....which would be equivalent the “Golden Horseshoe” ..population 9.3 million,
then the Toronto GDP would be as a percentage of the provincial total...about 500 billion USD
which makes sense...a bit less than Chicago GDP of 551 billion USD.
So you can brag that Atlanta has a higher GDP than any Canadian city all you want
but in reality it is significantly less...and probably same thing comparing with other large cities in
the world too...like Hong Kong is listed as having a GDP of only 320 billion USD
southern China powerhouse Shenzen only 338 billion US....gigantic Shanghai only 448 billion US...
Another thread derailed so a Torontonian can whine and beg for attention.
Basically, it has to do with the fact that people in the United States often drive so far for work.
I know people who live in south-central Pennsylvania who work in the DC area. It's quite a commute.
This. American metros are expansive because Americans are uniquely predisposed to commute vast distances to work. Why? Because the American Dream is pervasive and, as such, Americans think the pinnacle of adult life is having a two story home with a backyard in suburbia.
So what happens? Sprawl and more sprawl. But even though the suburbs get bigger and bigger they continue to service the core.
It's different from Europe where cities close to each other still have very separate labor markets.
The other huge factor is that many if not most US cities have become crime havens with horrible schools so people escaped to the suburbs with good schools and low crime...Detroit would be a prime example as would Atlanta.
The other huge factor is that many if not most US cities have become crime havens with horrible schools so people escaped to the suburbs with good schools and low crime...Detroit would be a prime example as would Atlanta.
Yes, but their are also places in the West that never developed real ghettos unlike the NE, Midwest, South and parts of California and still sprawl too next week so it's more cultural at this point.
Yes, but their are also places in the West that never developed real ghettos unlike the NE, Midwest, South and parts of California and still sprawl too next week so it's more cultural at this point.
Good point! I'm fascinated by individuals who would spend more than 1 hour commuting each way to work. I wouldn't do that unless I absolutely had to. I mean how do you enjoy a life.
Yes, but their are also places in the West that never developed real ghettos unlike the NE, Midwest, South and parts of California and still sprawl too next week so it's more cultural at this point.
Americans don't want to live in apartment buildings, and they can afford it.
They go to supermarkets and malls to do shopping, and do not rely on any urban facilities.
Americans don't want to live in apartment buildings, and they can afford it.
They go to supermarkets and malls to do shopping, and do not rely on any urban facilities.
People in cities such as NYC tend to live in smaller apartments and to shop in urban areas, and the same is true in terms of most major cities.
Americans don't want to live in apartment buildings, and they can afford it.
They go to supermarkets and malls to do shopping, and do not rely on any urban facilities.
Nothing wrong with wanting to live in a suburban environment. It isn't even wrong to plan cities to sprawl out because people want to live in a larger space and shop at malls and power centres. If that is the lifestyle the collective wants so be it. Still though, I just don't get looooong commute times. How do you enjoy your house or your family or your life if your total daily commute time is greater than 2 hours - insane regardless of your income.
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....Those US GDP’s most likely take in the largest area they can.
