A study shows that a dramatic lack of basic services makes the growth of cities counterproductive

The research, awarded by the Board of Trustees, gathers information from 193 countries dating from 1970 to 2010.
The research, awarded by the Board of Trustees, gathers information from 193 countries dating from 1970 to 2010.
Research
(10/01/2017)

Processes of urbanization and concentration of population in cities are seen as an essential element for the economic development. A study by David Castells Quintana shows that in order to create a growth of productivity with these urban concentration processes, basic infrastructures need to cover at least the 80% of urban population. That is, a dramatic lack of basic services -such as the current situation in Sub-Saharan Africa- is counterproductive, not only for peopleʼs quality of life but also from an economic perspective.

The research, awarded by the Board of Trustees, gathers information from 193 countries dating from 1970 to 2010.
The research, awarded by the Board of Trustees, gathers information from 193 countries dating from 1970 to 2010.
Research
10/01/2017

Processes of urbanization and concentration of population in cities are seen as an essential element for the economic development. A study by David Castells Quintana shows that in order to create a growth of productivity with these urban concentration processes, basic infrastructures need to cover at least the 80% of urban population. That is, a dramatic lack of basic services -such as the current situation in Sub-Saharan Africa- is counterproductive, not only for peopleʼs quality of life but also from an economic perspective.

The research, awarded by the Board of Trustees, gathers information from 193 countries dating from 1970 to 2010. It includes socio-economic data, such as income per head, education levels and fertility rate, as well as geographical distribution of population and urban infrastructures. In this last chapter, they examine the existence or lack of basic services such as access to sewage, to potable water and electricity, as well as data on the systems of massive public transport, among others. “In lots of poor countries more than half the population doesnʼt have access to basic services” Castells said. He says that this big lack of infrastructures makes peopleʼs productivity lower and about to fall.

 
From the methodological perspective, the study involves the use of advanced econometric techniques to work with different data which come from very different sources. This research uses data from the World Bank, United Nations and other data gathered by the own researcher. In the specific case of Sub-Saharan Africa there is also information from the NASA on annual rainfall or nocturnal lightning. This is a study that brings into touch the fields of development economy with urban economy. 
 
The research by David Castells, current UAB researcher, was carried out within the activities of the Regional Quantitative Analysis Group of the UB (AQR-IREA). In particular, his thesis was supervised by Professor Vicente Royuela. The awarded article was published in the distinguished Journal of Urban Economics with the title Malthus living in a slum: Urban concentration, infrastructure and economic growth.