Urban Productivity in the Developing World

Edward Glaeser and Wentao Xiong

No 23279, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Africa is urbanizing rapidly, and this creates both opportunities and challenges. Labor productivity appears to be much higher in developing-world cities than in rural areas, and historically urbanization is strongly correlated with economic growth. Education seems to be a strong complement to urbanization, and entrepreneurial human capital correlates strongly with urban success. Immigrants provide a natural source of entrepreneurship, both in the U.S. and in Africa, which suggests that making African cities more livable can generate economic benefits by attracting talent. Reducing the negative externalities of urban life requires a combination of infrastructure, incentives, and institutions. Appropriate institutions can mean independent public authorities, public-private partnerships, and non-profit entities depending on the setting.

JEL-codes: L26 O18 R00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ent, nep-gro and nep-ure
Note: DEV PR
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

Published as Edward L. Glaeser & Wentao Xiong, 2017. "Urban productivity in the developing world," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, vol 33(3), pages 373-404.

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