Urbanisation, Growth, and Development: Evidence from India
This paper examines how the spatial distribution of economic activity evolves as countries grow and the role urbanisation plays
Abstract
The author examines how the spatial distribution of economic activity evolves as countries grow and develop, and the role urbanisation plays in the process. He does so within the context of India, a country which has experienced slow rates of urbanisation in spite of substantial economic growth. He looks at how India’s urban hierarchy and the spatial allocation of economic activity and resources have evolved over time (1901–2011), and considers the consequences and importance of this process for growth and development. He also examines and summarises the evidence on how government policies, institutions, and public investments have influenced the spatial allocation of resources, how these factors affect welfare, growth, and development and, where questions remain, propose a research agenda for the future.
This paper is a part of a Global Research Program on Spatial Development of Cities, funded by the Multi Donor Trust Fund on Sustainable Urbanisation of the World Bank and supported by the UK Department for International Development.
Citation
Jonathan Colmer (2017) Urbanisation, Growth, and Development: Evidence from India. World Bank, Washington, DC