After I read a development article, it confirms my existing view about urban economic development. This is because the author questions the ideas of speculative urbanism in sub-Saharan Africa’s targeted cities. These cities are revised the image to attract international investors which will benefit for economies in the area of property investment interests. On one hand, it can be seen that Africa’s image revision purposed to bring benefits to the Africa’s future cities in the same position of successful cities such as Dubai and Shanghai. On the other hand, in order to renew the image of these areas, people who live in these areas are evicted. This process has affected significantly the majority of people in Africa cities who are greatly poor living in informal accommodations (Watson, 2014). In addition, the new residents and buildings are constructed in luxury styles. It can be seen that the future Africa’s cities are designed for middle and upper-income that did not fit with the socio-economic contexts of people who live there. This can be questioned that do various policies stimulating economies properly or not.
Moving on to my perspective, urban development should be considered in various aspects not only urban economy but also social and environmental contexts. According to agglomeration economies which play a key role in urban economic development, the advantages are generated from the adjacent location of firms and people both in cities (Glaeser, 2010). Therefore, many economic activities in the cities generate the overall economic benefits from learning sharing, learning and matching effects. However, the intensity of industrial clusters and population can create negative impacts on social and environmental issues. For instance, the more commodities are produced, the more pollution are generated which can lead to environmental problems. In addition, many people tend to seek for the job opportunities in the cities. However, the areas in the cities are not enough for the large number of workers. This is possibly resulted in the rise in the number of shanty towns and informal housings. This problem also worsens the quality of their life in the cities. On the whole, in my opinion, these concerns can lead to the next challenge for city managers in order to stimulate city economy while leaving no one behind.
After I read a
development
article, it confirms my existing view about
urban
economic
development
. This is
because
the author questions the
ideas
of speculative urbanism in sub-Saharan Africa’s targeted
cities
. These
cities
are revised
the image to attract international investors which will benefit for
economies
in the
area
of property investment interests. On one hand, it can be
seen
that Africa’s image revision purposed to bring benefits to the Africa’s future
cities
in the same position of successful
cities
such as Dubai and Shanghai.
On the other hand
, in order to renew the image of these
areas
,
people
who
live
in these
areas
are evicted
. This process has
affected
significantly
the majority of
people
in Africa
cities
who are
greatly
poor living in informal accommodations (Watson, 2014).
In addition
, the new residents and buildings
are constructed
in luxury styles. It can be
seen
that the future Africa’s
cities
are designed
for middle and upper-income that did not fit with the
socio-economic
contexts of
people
who
live
there. This can
be questioned
that do various policies stimulating
economies
properly
or not.
Moving on to my perspective,
urban
development
should
be considered
in various aspects not
only
urban
economy
but
also
social and environmental contexts. According to agglomeration
economies
which play a key role in
urban
economic
development
, the advantages
are generated
from the adjacent location of firms and
people
both in
cities
(
Glaeser
, 2010).
Therefore
,
many
economic
activities in the
cities
generate the
overall
economic
benefits from learning sharing, learning and matching effects.
However
, the intensity of industrial clusters and population can create
negative
impacts on social and environmental issues.
For instance
, the more commodities
are produced
, the more pollution
are generated
which can lead to environmental problems.
In addition
,
many
people
tend to seek for the job opportunities in the
cities
.
However
, the
areas
in the
cities
are not
enough
for the large number of workers. This is
possibly
resulted in the rise in the number of shanty towns and informal housings. This problem
also
worsens the quality of their life in the
cities
.
On the whole
, in my opinion, these concerns can lead to the
next
challenge for city managers in order to stimulate city
economy
while leaving no one behind.