As most employment opportunities are generated by Economies of Urbanization, cities attract large parts of a country’s job-seeking population.  However, the increase in wealth that is coming out of urban areas does not always translate into greater prosperity and well-being for their residents. In this sense, it is important for urban policy to contribute to the competitiveness of cities in an ever-expanding global economy, in order to improve living conditions in cities and provide adequate housing, infrastructure, education, health, safety, and basic services.

 

The Global Urban Futures Project sponsored the Urban Economy Seminar Series in order to create a space for discussion and analysis of the Urban Economy as an area of study. The Urban Economy Seminar series will revolve around three main categories:

 

1. Ending jobless growth and climate change: the role of the city´s productivity and competitiveness in decent job creation and sustainable production. The impact of structural change on job creation and its distributive effects is relevant to the role of urban economics

 

2. Informal sector: slums and public space as alternatives to market solutions

 

3. Public goods: urban provision of housing, infrastructure, and public space and the role of finance and public investment as strategies to reduce inequality. 

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To read the abstracts from each seminar click here.