Population Reports' Q&As

Meeting the Urban Challenge

Making Urban Areas Work

Who should have direct control over the planning and management of urban areas, national or municipal governments?

Around the world, a new consensus is emerging that national governments should not retain direct control over the planning and management of urban areas. Instead, national governments should act as enablers, creating legislative and administrative environments in which a wide range of local governments, private-sector firms, and community organizations can deliver infrastructure and services to urban areas (137). For example, national governments can focus on attracting favorable foreign investments, encouraging appropriate technology transfers, undertaking joint public-private initiatives to provide housing and basic services, and setting environmental standards (25).

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