Urban Growth Machine Theory
도시 성장 연합론
A political economy perspective demonstrating that cities are fundamentally structured by coalitions of local elites—property owners, financiers, media, and politicians—who unite to maximize land exchange values through intensified development.
| Field | Sociology · Political Science · Geography |
|---|---|
| Level of analysis | Meso · Groups & Organizations |
| Paradigm | Conflict Theory Critical Theory |
| Key figures | 👤 Harvey Molotch (하비 몰로치) 👤 John Logan (존 로건) |
| Year | 1976 |
Key Claims
Harvey Molotch and John Logan conceptualized the city as a ‘growth machine’. Local elites coalesce into growth coalitions that promote population influx and commercial expansion to drive up aggregate land rents. This dynamic creates an enduring structural conflict between the residents’ community ‘use values’ (neighborhood stability, affordability) and elite commercial ‘exchange values’.
Further Reading
- Molotch, H. (1976). The city as a growth machine: Toward a political economy of place. American Journal of Sociology, 82(2), 309–332.
- Logan, J. R., & Molotch, H. L. (1987). Urban Fortunes: The Political Economy of Place. University of California Press.
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