LAUSR

As well known, sprawl has been the subject of intense criticism. The critical debate began in the United States, where the phenomenon had long existed. More recently, the focus has shifted to include Europe, where sprawl is a relatively new phenomenon. Individual preferences, the increasingly intensive use of automobiles, and market dynamics, are generally considered to be the main causes of sprawl development, in a situation of presumed deregulation and absence of planning. Our impression is that the phenomenon demands a more nuanced reading. Public responsibilities in the creation of certain forms of suburban development should not be forgotten. All of this suggests that possible remedies might be quite different from those typically advocated. In discussing these aspects here, we shall focus above all on the case of Italy. As regards the approach, the article assumes what may be called a neo-institutionalist perspective.