DFID research: GDN Conference to take place on Urbanisation and Development
The Global Development Network’s 13th Annual Global Development Conference will take place between 16-18th June 2012 in Budapest, Hungary.
The future of the world lies in its cities. Per capita incomes are five times higher and infant mortality rates are two thirds lower in those nations that are more than 50 percent urbanised, compared to those countries with more people living in rural areas. By 2030, it is estimated that around 60 percent of the world’s population will live in cities, rising to 80 percent by 2050. But urbanisation brings its own challenges, including higher levels of contagious disease, congestion and crime, which often seem to be far beyond the capacities of many governments to manage.
A good time then, for a global conference to focus on the important nexus between urbanization and development. The Global Development Network’s 13th Annual Global Development Conference will bring together around 350 scholars from around the world to explore this topic. The conference, held in partnership with the Central European University, will take place between 16-18th June 2012 in Budapest, Hungary. The conference provides GDN with the opportunity to bring researchers, heads of government, representatives of national and international organizations and sponsors of research together. It creates spaces for engagement and spurs greater dialogue between local policymakers and the local research they support.
The theme of this year’s conference is Urbanisation and Development and topics will include (but are not limited to):
- Cities as Engines of Growth
- Agglomeration Economies and Urbanization
- Urban Externalities: Congestion, Contagious Disease and Crime
- Urbanization and Poverty
- Innovation, Technology Infusion and Smart Cities
- Migration and Urbanization
- Ethnic Minorities and the Urbanization Process
- The Enabling Policy Environment: Housing, Transportation and Other Public Infrastructure
- Urban Governance
- Financing Urban Infrastructure
For more information on the conference sessions and speakers, visit the GDNet website. You can read more research papers on the Urbanisation and development here.