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Cities Can Now Balance Development and Public Health Using Economic Framework

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A study published in Evidence & Policy found that senior urban development decision-makers currently have little incentive to consider public health impacts when planning towns and cities. The research highlights how an innovative economic valuation tool could potentially address this gap by providing a framework to integrate health considerations into urban development decisions.


This finding reveals a significant weakness in current urban planning processes that could affect population health outcomes in growing cities. The proposed economic valuation tool could provide decision-makers with practical methods to quantify and prioritize health impacts, potentially leading to healthier urban environments.


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Senior urban development decision-makers have revealed there is currently little incentive to consider public health impacts when shaping towns and cities, according to a new study published in Evidence & Policy that highlights the potential of an innovative economic valuation tool to address the problem.

Source: Economic tool could help cities prioritize public health in urban development