Balancing urbanization and industrialization

Context

Recent trends in urbanization reflect economic and political changes. Within the context of the structural changes in the world economy, some regions and cities have proved more flexible than nations in adapting to changing economic conditions. Well-managed urbanization can lead to improvements in the living standards of the world's population. However, the transition to an urbanized world has profound implications for the state of the world environment.

Claim

Urbanization is an essential part of the development of most countries towards stronger and more stable economies and it has helped underpin improvements in living standards for a considerable proportion of the world's population. The countries in the South that have urbanized most rapidly in the last 10 to 20 years are generally also the ones with the most rapid economic growth. Further, most of the world's largest cities are in the world's largest economies. Cities and towns are centres of artistic, scientific and technological innovation, of culture and education.