East Asia and Pacific Cities : Expanding Opportunities for the Urban Poor

Urbanization in East Asia and the Pacific has created enormous opportunity for many. Yet the rapid growth of cities can also create challenges as national and local governments try to keep up with the needs of their growing populations. Among these challenges is a lack of affordable housing, resulting in increasing slums, deficits in basic service provision, and widening inequality for urban dwellers. This study aims to better understand urban poverty and inequality in East Asian cities, recognizing that many countries of the region, particularly those of middle-income status, are at a critical juncture in their urbanization and growth process where potential social divisions in cities could harm prospects for future poverty reduction. The study uses a multidimensional approach to understand urban poverty and inclusion and draws on examples of programs and policies that have been successfully implemented in the East Asia region to develop a set of guiding principles for policy makers. Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- Executive Summary -- 1. East Asia and the Pacific's Urbanizing Context -- Introduction -- Urbanization in the EAP region -- Poverty Reduction and Urbanization in the EAP Region -- Income Inequality in EAP Cities -- Urban Poverty in Smaller Cities and Towns -- Characteristics of Urban Poverty in EAP: Large Slum Populations -- Notes -- References -- 2. Economic Inclusion and the Urban Poor -- Introduction -- Employment Trends in East Asia and the Pacific -- Key Challenges to Employment for the Urban Poor -- Risk and Resilience among the Urban Poor -- Economic Inclusion: Increasing Jobs and Resilience -- Notes -- References -- 3. Spatial Inclusion and the Urban Poor -- Introduction -- Housing, Informality, and the Urban Poor -- Key Challenges to Providing Secure Housing -- Basic Infrastructure and Services in Low-Income Urban Areas -- Key Challenges in Infrastructure and Service Provision -- Mobility and Access to the City -- Key Mobility Challenges for the Urban Poor -- Spatial Inclusion: Strategies for Housing, Infrastructure and Service Provision, and Connectivity -- Notes -- References -- 4. Social Inclusion and the Urban Poor -- Introduction -- Key Challenges in Social Inclusion for the Urban Poor -- Subgroups among the Urban Poor: Women -- Subgroups among the Urban Poor: The Elderly -- Subgroups among the Urban Poor: Migrants -- Social Inclusion: Programs Targeting Urban Women, the Elderly, and Migrant Populations -- Notes -- References -- 5. Guiding Principles for Promoting Poverty Reduction and Inclusion in East Asia and the Pacific's Cities -- Introduction -- Promoting Economic Inclusion for the Urban Poor -- Promoting Spatial Inclusion for the Urban Poor -- Promoting Social Inclusion for the Urban Poor As many cities in East Asia and the Pacific prosper, some urban dwellers are left behind lacking access to housing, services, jobs and social equality.