The Slant column in the Eugene Weekly reports:

Is there a connection between higher fuel prices and sagging real estate prices around the country? Both are causing worries about the economy, and they are related, according to a new study by Portland economist Joe Cortright. In his research, Cortright found that distant suburbs requiring long commutes have suffered the largest declines in housing prices “while values in close-in neighborhoods have held up better, and in some cases continued to increase.” Cortright says Oregon has weathered the housing price slump better than other states due to our relatively stringent land-use laws. And here in Eugene we have so far managed to resist the constant drumbeat for unbridled growth.

Inflated fuel prices are economically damaging, but they do encourage us to buy smaller cars, ride bicycles or take public transportation and live closer to where we work, shop and go to school. That makes sense environmentally regardless of gas prices.

Joe Cortright will be speaking at the Lane County Moving Forward Together™ conference on June 11, 2008.