Following Frances Brill's call for innovative housing policies in the UK, Jeff Nottage argues that the UK government needs to allow development within green belt land in order to solve the current housing crisis.
The idea of empowering city governments is a thrown around a lot these days in urbanite circles. But where should the line between local and higher levels of government begin and end? Alia Dharssi reports on the debate.
Sean Fox's provocative new theory that urbanisation is driven by demographic transition, not by economic growth, and that even rural development initiatives will directly cause increased urban populations.
Lily Song learns how Tacloban and other secondary cities can improve their ability to cope with emergency challenges which would be daunting even for the world's largest mega-cities.
Kerwin Datu reflects on the available options for reuniting Paris with its extensive suburbs.
Andrew Stevens and Jonas Schorr argue that instead of grandiose schemes like a global senate of mayors, we must concentrate on creating popular demand for city networking, and giving more power and visibility to existing efforts.
Some outer suburbs should develop transport networks independent of central London, to encourage commercial growth, provide jobs and reduce dependence on private vehicles and cross-city commuting.
Sebastian Schulz holds an MSc in Urban and Regional Planing Management and works as an urban planner and GIS analyst at BUP in Dusseldorf.
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The Global Urbanist is an online magazine reviewing urban affairs and urban development issues in cities throughout the developed and developing world.
Its readers are drawn from the urban policy and international development sectors, and include urban planners, officers in local, national or international government agencies, civil society leaders, and researchers.
