Originally published in 1984. The diverse problems suffered by the urban poor in Asia and the means by which their welfare levels can be raised are investigated comprehensively in this study. All chapters, written by specialists, deal with a particular subject but the general theme remains that the factors causing urban poverty and low income levels are interconnected and transmitted from one generation to another. It is intended that this study will lead to discussion of the problems involved in providing services for the urban poor and result in the increased responsiveness of urban management. This title will be of interest to students of urban and development studies.
A world more urban... The world is undergoing massive urbanization, and is projected to increase from three to over four billion city dwellers, mostly in the developing world, within 15 years. This historic shift is producing dramatic effects on human well-being and the environment. ...but less poor Unplanned shanty-towns without basic services are not an inevitable consequence of urbanization and slums are not explained by poverty alone. Urban misery also stems from misguided policies, inappropriate legal frameworks, dysfunctional markets, poor governance, and not least, lack of political will. Urbanization and economic development go hand-in-hand and the productivity of the urban economy can and should benefit everyone. Living conditions for the urban poor can be dramatically improved with proper solutions, backed by decisive, concerted action. More Urban - Less Poor brings order to the complex and important field of urban development in developing and transitional countries. Written in an accessible style, the book examines how cities grow, their economic development, urban poverty, housing and environmental problems. It also examines how to face these challenges through governance and management of urban growth, the finance and delivery of services, and finding a role for development cooperation. This is essential reading for development professionals, researchers, students and others working on any facet of urban development and management in our rapidly urbanizing world. Published with SIDA
About half of the region's poor live in cities, and policy makers across Latin America are increasingly interested in policy advice on how to design programmes and policies to tackle poverty. This publication argues that the causes of poverty, the nature of deprivation, and the policy levers to fight poverty are, to a large extent, site specific. It therefore focuses on strategies to assist the urban poor in making the most of the opportunities offered by cities, such as larger labour markets and better services, while helping them cope with the negative aspects, such as higher housing costs, pollution, risk of crime and less social capital.
Over the last two decades "poverty" has moved centrestage as an issue within the social sciences. This volume, edited by one of Europe's foremost sociologists, aims to assess the debates surrounding poverty and the responses to it, exploring the ways in which the various socio-political systems and welfarist regimes are being radically transformed. The essays examine how such change is effected by failing welfare programmes and enervating social structures such as family and community which once would have provided mechanisms of social stability. The first part of the book provides reflections on urban poverty; the second part discusses the widely debated idea of an "underclass" and its meanings in Europe and in the USA, and the final part draws on concrete empirical analyses to examine the patterns of poverty thoughout Western Europe. This volume will be of first-rate importance to all serious students of politics, sociology, geography, public policy, youth and community studies, social policy and American studies.
There is an urgent need to address the problems experienced by rapidly growing cities in the developing world. Recently, innovative approaches have focused on community-based organizations (CBOs) in setting up self-help and participatory programmes. Using the experience of CBOs in Manila, this book emphasizes the external conditions that influence patterns of collective action within communities and addresses issues such as the local political economy and the communities' place within the global economy.
Introduction -- (Re)considering poverty and place in the U.S -- The changing geography of poverty in the U.S -- The local safety net response -- Understanding metropolitan social service safety nets -- Rethinking poverty, rethinking policy
Topics include agricultural development, basic needs, development strategy and planning, economic development and policy, employment, food production, housing needs, income distribution and industrialization. Indexes are divided by references, authors, corporate authors, subject and geographical aspects.
