Annual Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference

The Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference brings together academics and development practitioners to present and discuss questions relating to People, Markets, and Cities. In particular, the conference will focus on effective land, housing, transport and local labor market policy in cities and their implications for economic development and social inclusion.

8th Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference

March 7-8, 2024
Sessions Included: “Urban Expansion and the Future of Cities”, “Planning in African Cities”, “Urban Expansion”, “Incremental Housing”, “City Structures”, “Local Economic Development”, “Segregation”, “Transportation”, “Young Urban Economist Workshop”, “Using Quantitative Spatial Models for Policy Workshop”, “Connecting Policy, Projects, and Research Workshop”, “Crime and Conflict in Cities”, “Housing”, and “Urban Labor Markets”

Keynote: The Promises, Problems, and Policy Pitfalls of Urban Development
Keynote Speakers: Mark Sundberg, Gilles Duranton, Elena Ianchovichina, Ming Zhang, Omar Masud, and Catalina Marulanda

Hosted by the World Bank (Development Research Group), George Washington University (Elliott School of International Affairs and Institute for International Economic Policy), and the International Growth Center (Cities Research Program).

Click here for the full agenda and video.

7th Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference

January 30, 2023
Sessions Included: “Climate Change and Sustainable Cities”, “Climate-Induced Migration”, “City Resilience to Climate Change”, and “Cities and Climate Change Mitigation”
Keynote Speakers: Michael Greenstone, Mushfiq Mobarak, Lint Barrage, and Siqi Zheng

Hosted by the World Bank (Development Research Group), George Washington University (Elliott School of International Affairs and Institute for International Economic Policy), and the International Growth Center (Cities Research Program).

Click here for the full agenda and video.

6th Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference

September 9, 2019
Sessions Included: “People, Skills and Productivity in Cities”, “People and Informal Markets in Cities”, “People, Accessibility and Social Outcomes in Cities”
Keynote Speakers: Eric Parrado Herrera, Diego Puga, Leah Platt Boustan, Edward Glaeser, Matthew Khan, and James Foster

Hosted by the World Bank (Development Research Group), George Washington University (Institute for International Economic Policy), the Inter-American Development Bank (Housing and Urban Development Division ) and (Department of Research), and the International Growth Center (Cities Research Program).

Click here for the full agenda and video.

5th Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference

September 7, 2018
Sessions Included: “The Spatial Organization of Cities – Land”, “The Spatial Organization of Cities – Transport”,  and “Urbanization, Growth, and Development”
Keynote Speakers: Pinelopi Goldberg, Harris Selod, Esteban Rossi-Hansberg, Matthew Khan, Douglas Gollin, Maggie Chen

Hosted by the World Bank (Development Research Group), George Washington University (Institute for International Economic Policy),  the International Monetary Fund, and the International Growth Centre.
Click here for the full agenda and video.

4th Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference

September 8, 2017
Sessions Included: “Urban Governance”, “Land”, “Cities, Growth, and Planning”, “Transportation”, and “Public Services”
Keynote Speakers: Michael Toman, Ede Ijjasz-Vasquez, Harris Selod, Paul Romer, Somik Lall, Remi Jewab, and Maggie Chen

Hosted by the World Bank, George Washington University (Institute for International Economic Policy) and the International Growth Centre Cities Program.

Click here for the full agenda and video.

3rd Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference

February 1, 2016
Sessions Included: “People, Skills and Productivity in Cities”, “People and Informal Markets in Cities”, “People, Accessibility and Social Outcomes in Cities”
Keynote Speakers: Asil Demirgüç-Kunt, Ede Ijjasz-Vasquez, Matthew Khan, Jan Brueckner

Hosted by the World Bank (Development Research Group), George Washington University (Institute for International Economic Policy), the Inter-American Development Bank (Housing and Urban Development Division ) and (Department of Research), and the International Growth Center (Cities Research Program). 

Click here for the full agenda and video.

2nd Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference

November 12, 2014
Sessions Included: “Structural Change, Urbanization and Sustainable Development”, “Infrastructure, Urbanization and Sustainable Development”, “Governance, Urbanization and Sustainable Development”, “Urbanization and Poverty Reduction”
Keynote Speakers: Edward Glaeser, Paul Romer, Marisela Montoliu Muñoz

Hosted by the World Bank, George Washington University (Institute for International Economic Policy), and the Growth Dialogue 

Click here for the full agenda and video.

1st Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference

May 13- 14, 2013
Sessions Included: “Today’s Urban Landscape”, “Forces of Urbanization”, “Competing for Land”, “Who Benefits?”, “Urbanization and Poverty Reduction”
Keynote Speakers: Zoubida Allaoua, Will Martin, James Foster

Click here for the full agenda and video.