Are you ready for the Metropolitan Century?
As urbanization speeds up and cities become more important as economic engines, it is necessary for economic developers to understand what this shift means for local, regional and national economies. A recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD), The Metropolitan Century: Understanding Urbanisation and its Consequences, explores this issue in the context of OECD member nations.
Perhaps of most interest to economic, workforce or community development stakeholders are the chapters covering what makes a successful city and how cities impact citizens, countries and the environment. The report defines successful cities as being well organized, able to attract people, and able to drive high levels of economic activity. While the circumstances of cities are uniquely influenced by local and national policies, the report identifies common threads, such as a clear connection between productivity and population size. The report also takes a look at the government of cities, noting that the fragmentation of a metropolitan area into multiple municipalities can have a negative impact, particularly around land-use regulations and transport planning.
While the process of urbanization varies between countries, this report does offer some useful analysis and insight for economic developers and others seeking to understand the opportunities and challenges created by urbanization. Given that the report states the impact of cities on the economic performance of surrounding regions can be measured at a distance of 200-300km, The Metropolitan Century
has value for economic developers outside of large cities as well. You can read the report online here or pick up a copy from the OECD bookshop. For a quick look at some of the report’s findings, Aaron M. Renn at Urbanophile provides some interesting highlights from The Metropolitan Century. |