Sustainable Cities Workshop on “Urban Inclusion and Development”

Globally, 55% of the population lives in urban areas today. By 2045, the number of people living in cities will increase by 1.5 times to 6 billion, adding 2 billion more urban residents. With more than 80% of global GDP generated in cities, urbanization can contribute to sustainable growth if managed well by increasing productivity, allowing innovation and new ideas to emerge. This workshop brings together academics and development practitioners to present and discuss questions relating to Sustainable Urbanization.

This discussion was organized by the Institute for International Economic Policy (IIEP) at GWU in partnership with the World Bank (Urban Global Practice).

Please note that those who register to attend in person are strongly encouraged to attend as lunch will be ordered for the specific number of registrants. Light breakfast, lunch, and coffee will be provided with the support of the University Seminar Series on The Global Socio-Economic Costs of Climate Change and Unsustainable Urbanization.

9.30-9.35 – Opening Remarks: Chairs: Remi Jedwab (GWU) and Mark Roberts (Lead Urban Economist with the Urban, Resilience and Land Global Practice, World Bank)

Academic Presentations, Chair: Nicholas Li (GWU)

9.35-9.55 – Simon Franklin (QMU),“Urban Density and labour markets: Evaluating slum redevelopment in Addis Ababa”
9.55-10.00 – Discussant: Fernanda Rojas Ampuero (Harvard)
10.00-10.10 – Q&A

10.10-10.40 – Michael Gechter (Penn State), “Spatial Spillovers from Urban Renewal: Evidence from the Mumbai Mills Redevelopment”
10.40-10.45 – Discussant: Roman Zarate (World Bank)
10.45-10.55 – Q&A

10.55-11.25 – Milena Almagro (Chicago Booth), “Urban Renewal and Inequality: Evidence from Chicago’s Public Housing Demolitions”
11.25-11.30 – Discussant: Leah Brooks (GWU)
11.30-11.40 – Q&A

11.40-11.50 – Coffee

Lightning Talks, Chair: Tanner Regan (GWU)

11.50-12.00 – Mariaflavia Harari (Wharton), “Residential Patterns in Urban Brazil”
12.00-12.05 – Q&A

12.05-12.15 – Jingwen Zheng (GWU), “Estimating the Negative Externalities from Urban Blight: Evidence from the Demolition of Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong”
12.15-12.20 – Q&A

Concluding Session, Chair: Carlos Rodriguez Castelan (Practice Manager in the Poverty and Equity Global Practice, World Bank)

12.20-12.40 – Mini-keynote with Maisy Wong (Wharton). “Urban Slums and Development: the Research Frontier”
12.40-12.50 – Discussant with Policy Reflections: Judy Baker, (Global Lead – Urban Poverty, Inclusive Cities and Housing, World Bank)
12:50-12:55 – Q&A

12.55-1.00 – Closing Remarks: Nancy Lozano (Lead Economist Sustainable Development, LAC, World Bank) and Tanner Regan (GWU)

1.00-1.45 – Lunch