STATE OF THE WORLD'S CITIES 2012/2013 Prosperity

State of the World’s Cities 2012/2013
This driving power behind urban change and transformation
acts as the ‘hub’ at the centre of the ‘wheel of prosperity’.
Urban power functions are where the public, collective
interest is determined, together with the practical rules,
plans and actions that are to embed it in a specific area. The
hub is where decisions are made to activate any of the five
dimensions of prosperity, keeping them well-balanced and
maintaining the momentum in the wheel.
Part 2 of this Report detailed the respective roles of
the five dimensions of urban prosperity, with the various
interlinkages and multipliers involved. Part 3 presents the
policy related factors underlying the prosperity of cities,
including drivers and constraints. It also focuses on urban
power functions – the ‘hub’ holding together, activating
and controlling the five ‘spokes’ of the ‘wheel of prosperity’
across the length and breadth of any urban jurisdiction,
regardless of geographic location, size or resources. Just
like productivity, infrastructure or a well-preserved natural
environment, these urban power functions are human
constructs; it is for governments, local and municipal
authorities, and society at large to make sure that these
power functions work for the benefit of the majority of the
population and keep enhancing shared urban prosperity.
Policy-Related Factors
Underlying the Prosperity
of Cities
The policy-related factors underlying the prosperity of
cities are multifaceted. They can be described in terms
of drivers and constraints. The drivers could be the
traditional and non-conventional factors that create an
environment conducive to prosperity; they often affect the
prosperity of cities in a positive manner. The constraints
act as impediments that prevent a city from becoming
more prosperous. These
factors are further
Effective urban mediated by the local
FACT planning and
context, and as such, their
management is perceived
effects may vary across
to be the most important
driver creating a favourable cities and regions – a
environment for the
particular factor might be
prosperity of cities.
important in one city or
region, but not in another.
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Actualizing dreams of prosperity: penthouse in El Alto, Bolivia.
© Eduardo Lopez Moreno
FACTORS CREATING AN ENvIRONMENT
CONDUCIvE FOR THE PROSPERITy OF CITIES
According to the local experts surveyed by UN-Habitat,
the factors that create a favourable environment for cities
to prosper are effective urban planning and management;
decentralization polices and appropriate institutions; a
system that creates equal opportunities for all; participation
of civil society; elected local officials; a favourable business
environment; access to basic amenities; and public transport
and mobility. Most of these factors are interrelated or
complementary and jointly affect the prosperity of cities.
The importance of these factors with respect to the various
regions is presented in Figure 3.1.1.
Effective urban planning and management
The perceived importance of urban planning is most
pronounced in the Arab States followed by Africa and Asia.
However, in Latin America
and the Caribbean, urban
planning emerges as the
third most important factor
that creates an environment
conducive for cities to
prosper.s
POLICy
As a starting
point,
urban planners must
view urbanization as a
positive phenomenon.