Economic growth in a city, state, or country is characterized by steady growth in the economy's productive capacity or growth in national income (Fernandez-Villaverde, 2001). The growth rate of gross domestic product (GDP) is most commonly used to measure economic growth because it reflects the total change in a country's national output (Filardo, 1999). This growth rate is used to predict the direction of an economy. A positive growth rate indicates a positive economy with more jobs, consumption and income while negative growth indicates an economic decline (Filardo, 1999). Economic growth implies higher productivity, prosperity and increased capital per capita which translates into a better quality of life. Conversely, economic decline can lead to higher unemployment and resource scarcity (Morrison, 1972). The GDP growth rate reflects the economic growth rate as it is composed of two components: population growth and labor productivity (Fernandez-Villaverde, 2001). For this reason, the GDP growth rate should be used to obtain the most accurate measure of economic growth. Land use and social sciences Social sciences are a field of study that is primarily concerned with society and human behavior. Due to poor connections between spatially explicit land use studies (limited territorial space) and the social sciences, it is difficult for land use modelers to use the vast stock of social science theory and methodology (Verburg, Schot, Dijst and Veldkamp, ​​2004). ). This difficulty is further complicated by the obstacles that still exist within the social sciences in attempting to interconnect the micro and macro levels of social organization (Coleman, 1990). Micro level pers...... middle of paper ......pacts of future political scenarios on urban land use. Environmental and Planning B: Planning and Design, 30, 251-271. doi:10.1068/b2983Kelley, A. C., & Schmidt, R. M. (1995). Correlations between aggregate population and economic growth: the role of the components of demographic change. Duke University.Kuznets, S. (2008). Modern economic growth: rate structure and spread. Retrieved from http://www.lrz.de/~u5152ak/webserver/webdata/ehebir/MEG.pdf Morrison, P. A. (1972). Population movements and the shape of urban growth: implications for public policies. Rand Publishing.Pagano, M.A., & Bowman, AO (2000, December). Vacant land in cities: an urban resource. The Brookings Institute, December 2000, (1-3).Porter, M.E. (2000, February). Location, competition and economic development: local clusters in a global economy. Harvard Business School, 14(1), 15-32.