> but in many areas it is not a big deal to drill a well and have clean water
Yet that is not how more than a miniscule fraction of houses in less densely built areas gets their water.
> Energy and food are still a big deal, but the mix today is that shipping fuel has less impact on food prices than real estate value (that is, the food at rural stores isn't particularly expensive and they usually aren't that far away). They may be less economical than city stores, but they seem tenable.
The real estate cost is irrelevant to the discussion of the efficiency of urban vs. rural energy and food delivery.
I was responding to you calling the distribution networks costly. If rural distribution ends up costing less, the efficiency isn't something you are going to get people to give much consideration.
This is why I then start talking about making more good cities, because that should presumably remove some of the costs that are more or less associated with lack of supply.
Yet that is not how more than a miniscule fraction of houses in less densely built areas gets their water.
> Energy and food are still a big deal, but the mix today is that shipping fuel has less impact on food prices than real estate value (that is, the food at rural stores isn't particularly expensive and they usually aren't that far away). They may be less economical than city stores, but they seem tenable.
The real estate cost is irrelevant to the discussion of the efficiency of urban vs. rural energy and food delivery.