Work

Releasing the transformative power of urbanisation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The relationship between urbanisation and development points to a crucial issue of our time. The urban population of low- and middle-income countries is expected to double from two to four billion between 2000 and 2030. Burgeoning urban populations in Africa and Asia contribute to congestion, squalid living conditions, the spread of communicable diseases and stressed ecosystems. If urban labour markets cannot absorb the expanding workforce, writes Ivan Turok, escalating poverty and hardship may spark social unrest and violence. More than three quarters of governments around the world are apprehensive about urbanisation and as such, have a range of explicit or implicit policies in place to discourage people from moving to cities. The United Nations, meanwhile, is increasingly concerned about anti-urban sentiments among governments and their reactive, fire-fighting approach to informal settlements.

Source: Human Science Research Council SA

DOI: 10.14749/30772358

Author: Human Sciences Research Council

Language: English

Topic: Urban and Rural Development Challenges

Subfield: Urban Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: green

Funder: Human Sciences Research Council

OpenAlex ID: W7108506265

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