The economics of urban planning:why land and labour markets matter

Masterplanning has resurfaced as an important planning tool in urban Africa in the last two decades. Given the rapid pace of urbanisation in lower-income countries more widely, planning ahead for the expansion of cities is crucial to ensure that residents are well-served with adequate public infrastructure and services. However, plans often do not account for the dynamics of land and labour markets, which have a fundamental impact on ever-changing urban form.