NIMBY

Critical Analysis

1. Based on the data from the chart above, what type of building had the most support nationally?

2. Based on the data from the chart above, what type of building had the least support locally?

3. NIMBY stands for “not in my back yard” and refers to a person who objects to the building of something perceived as unpleasant or hazardous in the area where they live, especially while raising no such objections to similar developments elsewhere. Based on the chart above, in what way are Americans the biggest NIMBYs? In other words, what type of building had the largest gap between national and local support?

4. In general, Americans are more likely to support national development than an actual development in their local area (in their own backyard). Why do you think that is?

5. In what way are you a NIMBY? In other words, are there any particular types of building development that you would support nationally but not locally?

6. If a person is a NIMBY and supports something nationally but not locally, where do they think the development will actually be built; or do they even think about that sort of thing?

7. Because no one really wants things like prisons or waste treatment facilities built in their backyard (if I’m being honest, I really don’t want a prison for a backdoor neighbor or a strip club across the street from my house) describe the sorts of non-popular, but necessary, developments get built.

8. A Bloomberg report outlines how NIMBYism is bad for business and is a huge drag on the national economy. Explain how NIMBYism impacts American politics and policy at the national level.

9. Based on the chart below*, what type of local building has the biggest gap between Republicans and Democrats?

10. Based on the chart below*, explain whether NIMBYism is exclusive to one American political party or whether it is something that exists for both major parties.

Learning Extension

Learn more about NIMBYism through all the great visual polling data at You Gov.

Action Extension

Write your local county commissioner or mayor and ask them to explain how they decide where to build unpopular developments like waste management facilities and prisons. Share their response with class.

Visual Extension*