Patterns of Metropolitan Development: What Have We Learned?

Abstract

Urban development patterns in both industrial and developing countries with market-oriented economies show strong regularities consistent with basic urban location theory. Large metropolitan areas are converging to similarly decentralised structures with multiple sub-centres, decentralised manufacturing and more centralised service employment. Decentralisation is increasing the reliance on road-based urban transport for both passengers and freight. Land markets are strong determinants of decentralisation, and the development patterns of cities without land markets differ greatly from cities with even poorly functioning land markets. Demand patterns in urban housing are similar across cities, but supply-side impediments vary widely, resulting in a wide range of the ratio of housing prices to income. The efficiency of public infrastructure provision also varies widely across cities and across sectors within cities. Large metropolitan areas in low-income countries will continue to grow as these countries urbanise.