Does sprawl reduce the black/white housing consumption gap?

Because unplanned suburban growth imposes social costs such as congestion, pollution, and reduction of open space, antisprawl policies are being adopted in fast‐growing metropolitan areas. This article explores one potential benefit of sprawl: It increases housing affordability, which may contribute to reducing the black/white housing consumption gap. The article uses 1997 American Housing Survey data to measure housing consumption for blacks and whites in metropolitan areas characterized by more and less sprawl. In sprawled areas, black households consume larger units and are more likely to own their homes than black households living in less sprawled areas.