It is here where different individuals from different parts and regions gather to fulfill their ambitions.
The human race is facing crises of all kinds, and the situation raises questions regarding economic, social and environmental stability.
It is true that the vastly disproportionate spread of wealth is giving rise to discontent as well as points to an ill-balanced growth and poor developmental policies.
1.1.2 Urban and Regional Trends
The cities have been the stage for protests and social movements throughout history.
Thus, the cities are not just socio-economic spaces and environment but play an important role in shaping plans and policies.
The cities have been the driving force behind national economies and it is time rethink urban prosperity.
1.1.3 City Prosperity Index – The new gauge
The 2008 financial crisis has pointed to the fact that there is a need to include non-economic dimensions in understanding and measuring prosperity
Developed by UN-Habitat, the new tool focuses on the five dimensions of prosperity, pinpointing the strengths and weaknesses
1.1.4 New questions about a prosperous city
The modern city of tomorrow must contribute economic growth through productivity and employment, generating income that allows the whole population to afford adequate living standards
The population should lead fulfilling lives and maximize individual potential via social services that include health, recreation, education, safety and security.
1.1.5 The dimensions of city prosperity index
The city’s specific ‘city prosperity index’ (CPI) should have its five dimensions equal at any given time
The five dimensions include Productivity, Infrastructure, Quality of life, Equity and social inclusion plus Environmental sustainability
UN-Habitat’s ‘wheel of prosperity’ follows a well-balanced development of the five dimensions.
1.1.6 City Human Development Index
Human Development Index (HDI) incorporates productivity and quality of life and is used to compute the “City Human Development Index”
UN-Habitat City Prosperity Index is unique as its measures prosperity across five dimensions where the local economy is contrasted to the business environment.
The finding indicates that urban equity and prosperity are linked closely. It is essential to note that high inequalities in cities interfere with their performance regarding prosperity.
1.1.7 Urban Change in Developed and Developing Countries
For the first time, the urban population outnumbers the rural population
It is expected that 7 out of every 10 people on the planet will live in urban areas by the middle of this century.
The demographic trends of rapidly aging populations and lower fertility rates point to an overall demographic decline.
Divergent urban growth patterns have been found in the developing countries.
Large or small cities are merging to develop new spatial configurations with typical mega-regions, urban corridors, and city-regions.
Equitable distribution can get marginalized because of unregulated land markets leading to the uneven development and extreme income inequalities.
Environmental sustainability challenges both political and administrative boundaries.
Large urban configurations face certain risks of poor planning, weak coping strategies and lack of coordination along with social and fiscal disparities.
2.1. Prosperity of Cities
2.1.1 Role of external and regional factors
The external factors give a comparative advantage to the cities while the regional factors include growth management, human capital, physical infrastructure
Urban productivity at the city level such as wider range of potential employers and a better match between labor supply and demand
Creativity and innovation have become the driving force because of the physical constraints in recent decades
The quality of life is emerging as a key asset to attract and retain creative populations.
2.1.2 The demographic potential of a city
The focus of policy actions should be more on the management of urban growth, especially in the initial stages of development, so as to minimize future inefficiencies.
A sound governance and an able leadership will always remain a critical factor in developing productivity of a city.
2.1.3 The role of adequate infrastructure
Good roads and improved communication facilities enhance urban connectivity and create a positive link between infrastructure and urbanization level
Adequate water supply and access to clean water is very essential for quality of life and environmental sustainability.
The road infrastructure as the roads contribute to effective mobility and are thus crucial for the prosperity of cities.
2.1.4 The quality of life at the city level
Despite different understandings, the very basic notion of a good quality of life share similar views that include fulfilling family lives, decent employment, good health plus material wellbeing.
There are eight domains of life situations that range from the economic situation, work-life balance, housing and employment, health, perceived quality of life and subjective well-being.
According to the UN-Habitat survey, experts emphasize on good quality of education, freedom to live and work freely, meaningful employment, and the decent income to be the most important factors for improving the quality of life.
2.1.4 Convergent and divergent responses
Divergent city responses rely on the steps taken to improve a quality of life will and on the stages of development of the city.
Convergent city responses go beyond local circumstances and governments with different political orientations are considered as priority interventions.
2.1.4 Rise of unequal income and unequal opportunities
Equity means a systematic distribution of the economic growth and benefits, and removes alienation and exclusion, engaging social groups and realizing the full potential of the entire population.
The two prime reason behind urban inequity is unequal income and unequal opportunities.
UN-Habitat policies display that local and national government make concerted efforts to show concerns for socio-economic equity in most developed countries.
2.1.4 Environmental sustainability for the prosperity of cities
The prosperity of cities is inextricably linked to the environmental sustainability as the urban areas rely on environmental goods extensively.
Environmental sustainability is essential for cities looking for a balanced economic growth that can ensure prosperity. It is assumed that any country can maintain both nature and economic growth.
A higher focus on the renewable energy sector such as bio-fuel, solar, the wind with new types of infrastructures and services.
Buildings are getting modified to reduce greenhouse emissions and old polluting vehicles are getting replaced to curb air pollution.
