Abstract
Towns and cities existed throughout Africa’s past. However since the late twentieth century Africans are witnessing a historically unprecedented transition from living mainly in rural areas to residing in towns and cities. This chapters explains the key concepts of the urban growth process and sets Africa's urbanization into a historical and global perspective. The second part of the chapter explores the driving forces behind Africa's ongoing urbanization process, and asks whether economic development and urbanization have moved in tandem. Finally, welfare consequences resulting from rapid urban growth in Africa without sufficient economic growth are discussed.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | The History of African Development: an Online Textbook for a New Generation of African Students and Teachers |
Editors | Ewout Frankema, Ellen Hillbom, Ushehwedu Kufakurinani, Felix Meier zu Selhausen |
Publisher | African Economic History Network (AEHN) |
Chapter | 12 |
Pages | 1-18 |
Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Keywords
- Economic Growth
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Urban Growth
- Urban Migration
- Urban Population
- Urbanization