Urbanization in the Developing World: Too Early or Too Slow?

J. Vernon Henderson and Matthew Turner

No 27201, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We describe patterns of urbanization in the developing world and the extent to which they differ from the developed world. We consider the extent to which urbanization in the developing world can be explained by conventional models of spatial equilibrium. Despite their relative poverty, developing world cities are relatively highly productive, and often provide good access to safe water, improved sanitation, schooling and inoculations. In some parts of the world, they are home to a surprisingly small number of factory workers and a surprisingly large number of farmers. Developing world cities seem to do less well at protecting their residents from lifestyle diseases and crime, their female residents from domestic violence and their children from illness. In thinking about these facts, we note that one strand of the literature focused on structural transformation has suggested that urbanization in the developing is occurring `too early’, while another strand argues that urbanization is occurring `too slow’ to be consistent with conventional models of spatial equilibrium. Despite many differences between developing and developed world cities, our new results combined with those in the literature suggest that models of spatial equilibrium can be adapted to be a useful guide to understanding the process of urbanization in the developing world.

JEL-codes: O18 R0 R11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lam and nep-ure
Note: ITI
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (35)

Published as J. Vernon Henderson & Matthew A. Turner, 2020. "Urbanization in the Developing World: Too Early or Too Slow?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol 34(3), pages 150-173.

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Journal Article: Urbanization in the Developing World: Too Early or Too Slow? (2020)
Working Paper: Urbanization in the developing world: too early or too slow? (2020)
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