Summary
Contents
This visionary and thought-provoking study is a must read for political leaders, policymakers, business executives, and leaders of civic society interested in India's long-term development. It presents a much needed longer term vision of Indian society and economy within which today's policy debates and actions must be anchored. The volume presents a persuasive case that if India succeeds in sustaining its recent economic success over the longer term (as many East Asian economies have done in the past), India can realistically aspire to become an affluent society within one generation. The study is being released just as the new Indian government is taking office in a political environment that presents a truly unique opportunity to put India into a longer term sustained growth trajectory with financial stability.
Urbanization and Public Services: Creating Functioning Cities for Sustaining Growth
Urbanization and Public Services: Creating Functioning Cities for Sustaining Growth
Within a generation, India will be transformed from a largely rural to an urban economy. According to UN projections, about half the total population of nearly 1.6 billion will be living in cities by 2039; others believe the share could be as high as 60 percent. The absolute numbers are even more staggering. There will be at least 400–500 million more urban dwellers by 2039.
Almost all cities can be expected to grow. The current big cities will become still bigger, and many medium-size towns will become large cities (figure 1). This shift in population to cities is an inevitable consequence of economic growth driven ...
