Space, in a geographic sense, entails costs when there is too much of it in relation to population and income. In the West, by comparison with more populous areas to the east, the level of personal income per square mile and per capita is low; costs per unit of, and per capita for, transportation, health and medical care, and education are high; and the standard of living per dollar of income per capita is low. Satisfactions derived from spaciousness may offset higher costs; however, these higher costs may be reduced without imparing benefits of spaciousness by technological change, economic development, and adoption of new or modified institutions. Charts are included. (SW)