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Post World War II, American cities were the envy of the world. With booming industries, towering skyscrapers, and highways full of cars, US cities symbolised the country’s soaring quality of life. Today, however, the position of American cities has faded—many US urban centres grapple with vacant downtowns, stark inequality, and infrastructure straining under modern demands.

Across the Atlantic, Nordic cities like Copenhagen and Stockholm have pulled ahead, topping global livability rankings thanks to their emphasis on collective goods: efficient public transport, mixed-use neighbourhoods, and climate-resilient design.

Now, Bloxhub, a sustainable urbanisation hub, is introducing US cities to the Nordic urban development model, helping them to address their challenges with Scandinavian strategies.

“A saying in the Nordics is that people will use the infrastructure you give them. So, when you give them more lanes on the highway, they will be used. If you give them more bike infrastructure, it will be used. So, it's a matter of nudging people in the direction that you want them to go, and they'll probably utilise it.”

What can US cities looking to rejuvenate their fortunes learn from the Nordic model of urbanisation? And can a model built on shared space and high-trust governance work in a nation focused on car-centric planning and individualism?

Martine Reinhold Kildeby of Bloxhub joins the Urban Report to discuss how trust, collaboration, and "nudging" residents toward greener choices can reshape cities without upending local identities. From Detroit’s experiments with digital mobility solutions to Austin’s energy-efficient building retrofits, Nordic approaches are set to revitalise American urban areas.

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If you have any thoughts or questions about anything that has been discussed in this week’s episode, you can reach Sean at his X account: Sean Carroll

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