Systems analysis as a tool for urban planning

Ways for analyzing social systems result in new policies for improving the behavior of systems in which we live. Such policies can change urban slums into areas designed for self-renewal. Already, studies into the relationships between monetary policy, interest rates, and foreign exchange have thrown new light on the processes of corporate growth, product stagnation, and loss of market share, and on the growth and decline of cities. At one time the engineer's task was simply to balance financial cost against the economic performance of his technology. Now, psychological stress, ugliness, and crowding have become part of the cost. Engineers who fail to realize this broadened role will be vilified by a society that views them as insensitive to the needs of the times.