Benefits of urbanisation in Asia

This report reviews selected literature on urbanisation in East, South and South-East Asia, and draws out its developmental benefits and lessons for donors. There is a strong evidence base on urbanisation and urban poverty in the academic and economic literature, but it mostly looks at the development challenges of increasing urbanisation. In Asia-Pacific, as in other areas, urbanisation is leading to increased poverty and deprivation (UN-HABITAT, 2013). The major facets of urban poverty are slumdwelling, limited access to services, vulnerability, and environmental issues and climate change (UNHABITAT, 2013). Since the literature largely takes a negative or problem-solving approach to urbanisation, it is more difficult to find evidence on benefits it brings. Few donors have explicit urban development strategies, and there is little evidence on what works in leveraging urbanisation (Satterthwaite & Mitlin, 2013, p.1).