The table below shows the distribution of the United States population across different residential areas in 1950 and 1970:
| Year | Central Cities Population (as % of US total) | Suburbs Population (as % of US total) | Rural / Non-Metropolitan Areas (as % of US total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 32.8% | 23.3% | 43.9% |
| 1970 | 31.4% | 37.6% | 31.0% |
Which of the following was a major consequence of the demographic shift illustrated in the table between 1950 and 1970?
- The relocation of major commercial centers, retail outlets, and corporate offices from urban cores to suburban shopping malls and office parks.Answer
- BThe immediate narrowing of the wealth gap between suburban homeowners and inner-city minority populations.
- CA rapid return to Gilded Age-style laissez-faire economics that completely ended federal funding for transportation and infrastructure.
- DThe national adoption of supply-side economic policies that focused on deregulation and cutting income taxes for high earners.
Answer
The relocation of major commercial centers, retail outlets, and corporate offices from urban cores to suburban shopping malls and office parks.
The correct answer is correct because the mass migration of middle-class families to suburban communities led to a corresponding shift in economic activity. Retailers, department stores, and corporate offices relocated to suburban areas, giving rise to shopping malls and business parks, which diminished the traditional economic dominance of central city downtowns.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Postwar suburbanization led to the decentralization of commercial activity, shifting retail and corporate development away from urban cores and contributing to the economic decline of inner cities.