Driving the Economy

Interesting event coming up in Seattle in October by a group called the Mobility Agenda about the link between car ownership and economic success. According to the announcement: “Research has shown that workers who own cars have greater employment and earnings potential than those who do not.”

First, I wonder if that is an association that is changing as more people – particularly higher income folks – move into more dense urban areas where they can walk, bike or use public transportation: If rich people don’t have cars, then the data will show that car ownership is more associated with lower incomes. Second, the more we increase the supply of affordable housing in transit-oriented development, the less that those people will need cars also.