Abstract

Some authors proclaim the advantages of the urban concentration of activities, in contrast to those who point out the flaws of the commonly named “urban sprawl.” However, there are advantages to both ways of making a city. Our study explores the concepts of “quality of life” and “social sustainability” in compact and diffused cities. We want to identify if socially sustainable communities appear only in central districts, or if urban sprawl creates socially unsustainable populations. We analyze definitions and measurements of urban sprawl, along with the existence of social sustainability and quality of life in both kinds of neighborhoods in Mexican metropolises. Moreover, we talk about the need for incorporating social science approaches along with a discussion of the multidisciplinary themes in the study of urban sprawl. Empirical works show that phenomena linked to city expansion appear faster than public policies can anticipate.