Basic Housing: Policies for Urban Sites, Services, and Shelter in Developing Countries

By: Aprodicio A. Laquian

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Synopsis: "Since people started living in towns some 8000 years ago, the city has been the symbol of development in commerce, industry, and the arts. At present, however, there are fears that cities may not be able to continue their developmental roles. Cities have become too large, it is said, they are choked by pollution and waste, scarred by slums and squatter shantytowns. Indeed, it is staggering to realize that the world's population has increased to 4.5 billion and that 42% of the people now live in cities. By the year 2000, the global population might reach 6.4 billion, more than half of that urban. Unlike in the past, urban growth will be fastest in less developed countries, where the proportion of people living in cities will almost triple between now and the turn of the century. Such massive urban growth will be occurring in cities already critically short of space, housing, and basic urban services. The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) has devoted considerable resources to urban research, and the developmental implica¬tion of rapid urban growth has been a lively topic in the Centre's programs. Urban studies supported by IDRC have focused on policy implications of rural-urban migration, informal sector employment, low-cost housing, and providing basic services to the urban poor."--From Foreword