Metro-Matrix Theory » External Relevant References » 04 McKensey
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McKensey Urban World: Mapping the Economic Power of Cities |
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| The world is in the throes of a sweeping population shift from the countryside to
the city. The global urban population is growing by 65 million annually, equivalent to adding seven new Chicagos a year.1 And for the first time in history, more than half of the world’s population is now living in towns and cities. Underpinning this transformation are the economies of scale that make concentrated urban centers more productive. This productivity improvement from urbanization has already delivered substantial economic growth and helped radically reduce poverty in countries such as China. The expansion of cities has the potential for further growth and poverty reduction across many emerging markets. Urbanization will be one of this century’s biggest drivers of global economic growth. |
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McKensey Urban World: Cities and the Rise of the Consuming Class |
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| The urbanization of the world continues apace and is one bright spot in an otherwise challenging global economic environment. The shift in economic balance toward the East and South is happening with unprecedented speed and scale. We are quite simply witnessing the biggest economic transformation the world has ever seen as the populations of cities in emerging markets expand and enjoy rising incomes—producing a game-changing new wave of consumers with considerable spending power.
Meeting demand from these new consumers will necessitate an investment boom in buildings and infrastructure that will account for the lion’s share of global investment in the years to 2025. It is important that cities make the investment they need in an efficient and productive way to ensure healthy returns and lock in high levels of resource productivity for decades to come. |
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