Gugila Elena CristinaManagement of Public Services1st year Masters

The World Goes To TownThe Economist; May 5th 2007

Introduction

• Homo sapiens – homo urbanus• Urban environment = human development - agriculture - domestication of animals - security• Ex.: Thebes, Babylon, Rome

• Cities as places of worship and trade• Centres for learning, innovation,

sophistication• Ex: - centre of administration Beijing - political development Florence - learninig centres Bologna

• Important technological developments - transportation - aqueducts• Industrial Revolution – source of jobs ( 13%) • Leap to 50% - due to medical improvements• Phenomena specific to poor, middle-income

countries; ( Africa, Asia)

Nairobi; Kibera

• 250.000 – 3 million ppl in 47 years• Kibera – largest, densest, poorest slum;( 1.2m) - dust, shaks, stench, ‘ flying toilets’• Informal settlement• Issue of rehousing difficult : - bribes - cheap labour - people ( centrality)

Mumbai; Dharavi

• Similar to Kibera• Central peninsula slum close to the airport• People make easy living ( 600.000 ppl)• Relocation and rehousing is controversial - corrupt officials - pay- and- stay arrangement

Conclusion

• Throughout poor countries there are similar stories of slums; we mustn’t look only at the negative examples