Consequences of ten urban policies in the Nashville urban dynamics model

Drawing from general systems theory and based Forrester's generalized Urban Dynamics Model developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the consequences of ten city development policies in Nashville, Tennessee are examined with recommendations for a "best" set of policies. The policies examined include changes in housing density, changes in the supply of housing for various income groups, changes in tax policies, creation of new enterprise, job training programs, low income job programs and the impact on the city of financial aid from the state or Federal government. The "best" set of policies that provide the most sustaining environment for balanced growth are the demolition of slum housing, the promotion of new enterprise construction and a ten percent increase in housing density over a thirty year period. The methodology used to examine the consequences of policies is through a nonlinear, computerized, dynamic feedback model, with the parameters custom tailored to represent Nashville. The model is written in a user oriented computer language called DYNAMO. Use of the model permits the evaluation of urban policies to determine their long range impact on housing, business, population, the tax base, and employment.