Final answer:
Children should grow up in a big city due to the economies of scale and agglomeration that provide businesses with a larger market and workforce, a variety of products, and cultural facilities. However, cities can also reach a point where the disadvantages, such as congestion and pollution, balance out these benefits. Ultimately, the convenience and cost-efficiency are significant factors in favor of urban living.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kids should grow up in a big city for several reasons, most notably the economies of scale that cities illustrate. The concentration of people and economic activity in cities leads to more efficient business operations and the ability to serve a large group of customers, hire from a larger pool of workers, and acquire specialized inputs more easily. Moreover, cities provide a wide variety of products, services, and cultural attractions like sports stadiums and museums, which thrive due to a large nearby population base.
However, not everyone lives in a giant city because agglomeration economies can turn into diseconomies. Issues such as traffic congestion, pollution, and overcrowding can offset the benefits of being in a city. Nevertheless, the reduction of costs related to transportation, as well as shared costs for infrastructure (referred to as economies of agglomeration), make cities the most convenient and cost-efficient places for the majority of people to reside. This convenience and efficiency have led to a high urban population, especially in places like California, where almost 95% of people live in urban areas.
The benefits of living in a city align with the principle of economies of agglomeration, which is akin to economies of scale but for urban settings. The time and money savings this provides is a strong argument in favor of children growing up in larger urban centers despite the potential downsides.