Urbanization and Growth

* Why is productivity higher in cities?* Does urbanization cause growth or does growth cause urbanization?* Do countries achieve rapid growth or high incomeswithout urbanization?* How can policy makers reap the benefits of urbanization withoutpaying too high a cost?* Does supporting urbanization imply neglecting rural areas?* Why do so few governments welcome urbanization?* What should governments do to improve housing conditionsin cities as they urbanize?* Are innovations in housing finance a blessing or a cursefor developing countries?* How will governments finance the trillions of dollars of infrastructurespending needed for cities in developing countries?First in a series of thematic volumes, this book was prepared for theCommission on Growth and Development to evaluate the state ofknowledge of the relationship between urbanization and economicgrowth. It does not pretend to provide all the answers, but it does identifyinsights and policy levers to help countries make urbanization workas part of a national growth strategy. It examines a variety of topics: therelevance and policy implications of recent advances in urban economicsfor developing countries, the role of economic geography in globaleconomic trends and trade patterns, the impacts of urbanization on spatialinequality within countries, and alternative approaches to financingthe substantial infrastructure investments required in developing-countrycities.Written by prominent academics in their fields, Urbanization andGrowth seeks to create a better understanding of the role of urbanizationin growth and to inform policy makers tackling the formidable challengesit poses.