What impact does suburbanization typically have on urban areas?

Suburbanization typically causes urban sprawl and decline because as populations move from urban centers to suburban areas in search of larger homes and a perceived better quality of life, the cities can experience a reduction in their tax bases and economic vitality. This shift can lead to a deterioration of infrastructure and a concentration of poverty in the urban core. Businesses may follow residents to the suburbs, leaving urban areas with vacant buildings and reduced economic activity. Consequently, services in cities may decline due to fewer resources, compounding the challenges faced in maintaining urban environments. This phenomenon often results in the outward expansion of metropolitan areas, characterized by low-density development and dependence on automobiles, ultimately leading to further decline in urban settings as investment and populations shift away from them.