The Values of Contemporary American Planners

Abstract

Little is known about planners' substantive values, but personal values do impinge on professional work. This article, a companion to two articles previously published in the Journal, examines attitudes of a sample of AEP members toward the environment, mass transit, development, low income and minority groups, and citizen participation. It finds that they are most committed to the first two, are mildly negative about development, and are ambivalent about minority issues and citizen participation. It also examines possible determinants of these values, and how values may affect action, asking whether planners can, in fact, be value neutral. Finally, implications and possible trends are discussed.