About the event

Abstract

Many people like living in or close to cities, and in nearly all parts of the world more are heading there. This is a good thing, because density has significant benefits, including economic productivity, economies of scale in the provision of public goods and services, tolerance, and environmental sustainability. There are a number of challenges we — citizens, researchers, policymakers — will need to meet: in capability development, provision and maintenance of infrastructure, safety, economic security and prosperity, housing, transportation, care, political decision making, and financing. The good news is that we know a lot about how to meet these challenges. There are feasible, affordable policies and institutions that can allow and encourage more people to live in or near cities and thereby facilitate better lives for themselves and for others. This isn’t just theoretical: these policies and institutions are already in use in actually existing cities, and there is substantial evidence that they work.