Urbanization and spatial development in the Asian and Pacific region: trends and issues

Abstract

"This article reviews the trends and patterns of urbanization and spatial development since 1960 in selected Asian and Pacific developing countries and discusses the main forces underlying the trends. It examines issues such as the speed of urbanization, spatial concentration and appropriate measures to deal with them; the effects of income and differences in sectoral productivity and of population growth; the relative effectiveness of spatial policies; and urban problems and measures to cope with them. It then attempts to preview the likely urbanization trends to the year 2000, highlighting problems associated with rapid urban growth and excessive spatial concentration. Finally, it discusses the various policy approaches to spatial and urban issues."