The Political economy of Slums: Theory and Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa
World Development
Download Document| Date Published | 2013 |
| Version | |
| Primary Author | Sean Fox |
| Other Authors | |
| Theme | Neighborhood Upgrading |
| Country |
Abstract
Fox - "Over 800 million people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America live in slums. Why? I argue that slums are a result of ‘‘disjointed modernization” and show that 70% of cross-country variation in slum incidence is explained by demographic, economic, and institutional factors. I trace the origins of disjointed modernization in sub-Saharan Africa back to the colonial period and show that colonial era investments and institutions are reflected in contemporary variation in slum incidence. I argue that status quo interests and the rise of an anti-urbanization bias in development discourse have inhibited investment and reform in the postcolonial era."