The Challenge of Urban Government

This volume examines wide-ranging issues confronting cites, and reviews tools, strategies and practices to address them. It examines nine 'windows' of urban management in the context of the new urban strategy of the World Bank. The book recognizes that cities are crucial in efforts to address poverty and development issues. It combines theoretical discussions of new, fundamental principles of urban management with practical discussions that show how concepts are translated into policy tools and strategies.

Chapter 1 discusses the forces of globalization and how these affect cities in general and metropolitan management and governance in particular. Chapter 2 introduces the elements of strategic planning and evaluates successful experiences in city strategy and governance. In light of decentralization, chapter 3 analyzes subnational financial management, particularly its technical, participatory, and political aspects. Chapter 4 deals with revenue raising issues and approaches. Chapter 5 considers private sector involvement in provision of public services, using case studies of public-private partnerships. Chapter 6 discusses the role of land and real estate markets in urban development, and explains why and how local governments should intervene in their operations. Urban poverty is the focus of chapter 7, with examples of how it is addressed. Chapter 8 analyzes problems of the urban environment and preconditions for successful environmental management, with specific urban cases. Chapter 9 examines the relationship between transportation and metropolitan growth, and how to deal with urban transport problems.