Across the developing world, the pace of urbanisation has outstripped the ability of governments to facilitate decent, affordable housing for citizens. With the price of private housing developments make them out of reach to middle income households, urban growth in these rapidly growing cities has largely occurred through unplanned, low density, and low-quality housing. As a result, citizens are unable to access basic services and amenities that affect their quality of life. At the same time, cities are missing a key ingredient for the effective clustering of individuals and firms that make cities engines for growth.

In this context, many city governments are asking: how can policy help to address the growing gap between housing supply and rising demands? Can public housing schemes address the need of low income residents? How can policy be used to unleash private housing markets equipped for the demands of these cities?

The International Growth Centre (IGC) and LSE Cities explored these questions in examining the future of housing policy in developing cities. Speakers presented and defended their views on viable options for policy.

This event was part of the LSE Festival: Beveridge 2.0, a series of events aimed at rethinking the welfare state for the 21st century and the global context.

Heading image courtesy Peter Griffiths.