You need density so that normal people can still afford to live there. Otherwise you'll just have all the big cities turn into places for the elites of the societies while the rest needs to live on the outskirts.
> Otherwise you'll just have all the big cities turn into places for the elites of the societies while the rest needs to live on the outskirts.
Why is that a bad thing? Not everyone has to live in one place. A more distributed economy across a web of smaller cities seems more desirable. The high cost of living is exactly what is supposed to discourage people from moving to an expensive place. If people want to put up with a high cost and live in the outskirts with a longer commute, then that is their choice - they are explicitly signaling that they accept such a trade off, and I don’t think any special accommodation should be made for them given that voluntary choice.
One reason I don’t feel much sympathy for that outcome is that in the US, there are numerous locations across the country that are affordable and good places to live. The problem is that many feel entitled to live in the most desirable and trendy (in demand) places, and then bemoan the expense. But why wouldn’t it be expensive? No one is entitled to live where they want at whatever price point they want, just as I am not entitled to get a beachfront property in Hawaii just because I desire it.
It's even harder in Europe in some ways. Housing is expensive there too and while you got free education and Healthcare, the salaries are much lower than the US. Source: look at the birth rates in Europe vs US.
