Informal Economy Monitoring Study
The Informal Economy Monitoring Study (IEMS) is a major study of the urban informal economy being undertaken in 10 cities around the world: Accra, Ghana; Ahmedabad, India; Bangkok, Thailand; Belo … Continue reading
Urbanisation concepts and trends
McGranahan and Satterthwaite – There is an emerging consensus that urbanisation is critically important to international development, but considerable confusion over what urbanisation actually is; whether it is accelerating or slowing; … Continue reading
Reimagining the World-Class City
Skyscrapers and shanties, gleaming malls and run-down markets, palatial houses and the piss-poor guys who build them: those are the divides in cities like Mumbai, Nairobi and Manila. Rich and … Continue reading
Urbanism of Democracy
Aseem Inam: How does one represent and symbolize the urbanism of democracy? I have long been interested in this question. My research on Town Hall at Säynätsalo by Alvar Aalto, … Continue reading
Understanding ‘Urban Youth’ and the Challenges they face in Sub-Saharan Africa
Much of Africa is urbanising fast and its young population is projected to constitute the largest labour force in the world. While urbanisation can be linked closely with economic development, … Continue reading
What Can a ‘Science of Cities’ Offer Planners?
Michael Mehaffy – Like doctors who understand and support the body’s own immune system function, we can begin to understand and support the vernacular processes that are already occurring—and have … Continue reading
Linking Resilience and Sustainability in City Planning
Timon McPhearson – Cities around the world are making plans, developing agendas, and articulating goals for urban resilience, but is urban resilience really possible? Resilience to what, for what, and … Continue reading
Another underestimate of urban poverty
David Satterthwaite – Yet another global study has understated the scale and depth of urban poverty, by failing to appreciate the differences between rural and urban contexts. The Global Multidimensional … Continue reading
Reading Development 