STATE OF THE WORLD'S CITIES 2012/2013 Prosperity

State of the World’s Cities 2012/2013
POLICy
Urban planning and appropriately developed
institutions and regulations can play major roles,
improving urban equity through the capture and redistribution of
rising land values.
political commitment, has contributed to a reduction
of slums in a number of countries including Argentina,
China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Morocco,
South Africa and Tunisia.
One positive outcome of urban growth is that it
increases urban land values. Components of urban
planning systems – such as re-zoning, granting of planning
permission, and the provision of infrastructure and
services – also contribute to higher urban land values.
Experience in North and Latin America shows that value
capture can be an effective way to link urban planning and
land use regulations, as well as to control land use, finance
urban infrastructure, and generate local revenue to fund
urban management.
Uncontrolled sprawl presents a major challenge for
urban planning and
has implications for
the prosperity of cities.
Urban sprawl contributes
to the high numbers of
cars, distances travelled,
length of paved roads, fuel
consumption, alteration of
ecological structures and
the conversion of rural land
into urban uses – all of
which are environmentally
POLICy
Urban planning
can encourage
more compact, efficient
and sustainable urban
development.
FACT Decentralization
policies emerge
as the second important
factor enhancing urban
prosperity.
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unsustainable. Compact urban development has several
advantages. It is more efficient, inclusive and sustainable. The
cost of providing infrastructure is lower, access to services
and facilities is improved since thresholds are higher, the
urban poor find that livelihoods are less of a challenge, and
social segregation is reduced. Urban planning has played a
significant role in Singapore’s compact pattern and modern,
convenient public transportation. Singapore is transitoriented,
with high-density residential and commercial
developments integrated into transport nodes. This improves
accessibility to public transport.
Decentralization and appropriate institutions
In Latin America and the Caribbean, decentralization
is perceived to be the most important factor enhancing
urban prosperity. This is an indication of the effectiveness,
or more developed nature, of decentralization policies in
Latin America and the Caribbean compared with other
regions. The perceived effect of decentralization in Arab
States appears to lag behind other regions. The highly
centralized governance structure in the region undermines
the efficiency of municipal authorities, obstructs political
Kathmandu, Nepal: the relentless urban sprawl of the Kathmandu Valley. The Vishnumati River is
surrounded by suburbs which have sprung up in recent years. With few building regulations, the
city keeps on growing, as many look for a better life in the city than in the countryside. The result is
environmental chaos with severe noise, air and water pollution problems.
© 2012 Jonathan Mitchell/fotoLIBRA.com