Assessing vertical urban development gaps: Which developing regions have tall buildings, which do not, and why?
Cities need to build upwards to become more compact. This brief presents findings from a study assessing the extent to which some regions of the world build upwards more than others, given similar economic and geographical conditions. It highlights the need to adapt land-use regulations and reduce constraints in permitting and construction to meet urban demand.
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Barr-and-Jedwab-Policy-Brief-June-2022.pdf
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- Cities need to build upwards to become more compact. This brief explores findings from a study assessing vertical urban development “gaps” globally and over time, i.e., the extent to which some regions of the world build upwards more than others, given similar economic and geographical conditions.
- Among developing economies, the research finds that Asian nations now lead with respect to vertical development (with Southeast Asia being the leading subregion), followed by Latin America. Africa ranks last.
- Africa lags behind in terms of vertical development, but this is not due to its lower incomes or geographical factors. Moreover, important subregional differences can be observed within Africa, with East Africa being on the same path as Southeast Asia in the past. Other African subregions have diverged from the rest of the world.
- This policy brief highlights the importance of adapting land-use regulations and reducing other constraints related to permitting and construction processes in order to meet urban demand.