March 7 – 8, 2024
World Bank, Main Complex
1818 H St, Washington, DC
The 8th Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference will bring together academics and development practitioners to present and discuss questions relating to urban expansion and the future of cities.
The theme is of increasing importance to academics and policy makers alike as the supply of ideas and demand for solutions to address the challenges of urban expansion are growing. Cities in some developing countries are growing at faster rates and at lower income levels than those in developed countries. If well-directed and well-managed, expansion and densification of urban areas can bring economic growth while also offering poverty reduction opportunities. If poorly directed and managed, the result can be congested, unsustainable, and unproductive environments.
Planning for the cities of tomorrow is thus a crucial task, but one benefitting from a multi-disciplinary approach. This edition of the conference will draw from experts at the interface of policy and research to understand which new ideas, new methods, and new collaborations can bring about necessary changes.
The conference will feature a series of policy- and research-oriented events on March 7, 2024, followed by a more technical series of seminars and events (including a Young Urban Economist Workshop) on March 8, 2024. The conference is co-sponsored by the World Bank (Development Research Group and Urban, Disaster Risk, Resilience, and Land), George Washington University (Elliott School of International Affairs and Institute for International Economic Policy), the International Growth Centre (Cities that Work and Cities Research Program), and Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Conference Agenda
DAY 1 (March 7)
Registration and Coffee (8:30 – 9:00 am)
Welcoming Remarks (9:00 – 9:15 am)
Indermit Gill, Senior Vice President & Chief Economist, The World Bank
Edward Glaeser (TBC), Professor of Economics, Harvard University
OPENING SESSION: Urban Expansion and the Future of Cities (9:15 – 10:45am)
Chair and Moderator: Bernice Van Bronkhorst, Global Director for Urban, Resilience and Land Global Practice, The World Bank
POLICY SESSION: Planning in African Cities (10:45 am – 12:15 pm)
Chair: Alyssa Ayres, Dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University
Lunch Break (12:15 – 1:30 pm)
KEYNOTE ADDRESS AND DEBATE: The Promises, Problems, and Policy Pitfalls of Urban Development (1:30 – 3:00 pm)
Keynote Speaker: Gilles Duranton, Dean’s Chair in Real Estate Professor, The Wharton at University of Pennsylvania
Coffee Break (3:00 – 3:30pm)
PARALLEL THEMATIC SESSIONS (3:30 – 5 pm)
Thematic Session A: Urban Expansion (Preston Auditorium)
Chair: Mesbah Motamed, Lead Economist, Millennium Challenge Corporation
Thematic Session B: Incremental Housing (MC 4-800)
Chair: Tanner Regan, Assistant Professor, George Washington University
Thematic Session C: City Structures (MC 13-121)
Chair: Stephane Hallegate, Senior Climate Change Adviser, World Bank
DAY 2 (March 8)
Registration and Coffee (8:30 – 9:15 am)
PARALLEL RESEARCH SESSIONS (9:15 – 11:15 am)
Research Session 1A: Local Economic Development (MC 2-800)
Chair: Jake Grover, Senior Advisor, Millennium Challenge Corporation
Research Session 1B: Segregation (MC C2-350)
Chair: Henry Telli, Senior Country Economist, Ghana, International Growth Centre
Research Session 1C: Transportation (MC 13-121)
Chair: Stephane Straub, Chief Economist for Infrastructure, The World Bank
PARALLEL WORKSHOPS (11:30 am – 12:30 pm)
Young Urban Economist Workshop – Part 1 (MC 2-800)
Chair: Oliver Harman, Cities Economist for the International Growth Centre’s (IGC)
Using Quantitative Spatial Models for Policy Workshop (MC 3-570)
Chair: Juliana Oliveira-Cunha, Policy Economist, International Growth Centre
Lunch Break (12:30 – 1:15 pm)
PARALLEL SESSIONS (1:15 – 2:45 pm)
Young Urban Economist Workshop – Part 2 (MC 2-800)
Chair: Oliver Harman, Cities Economist for the International Growth Centre’s (IGC)
Policy Session: Connecting Policy, Projects, and Research Workshop (MC 13-121)
Chairs: Mesbah Motamed, Lead Economist, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Juliana Oliveira-Cunha, Policy Economist, International Growth Centre
PARALLEL RESEARCH SESSIONS (3:00 – 5:00 pm)
Research Session 3A: Crime and Conflict in Cities (MC 2-800)
Chair: Paul Carrillo, Professor, George Washington University
Research Session 3B: Housing (MC C2-350)
Chair: Hina Shaikh, Senior Country Economist, Pakistan, International Growth Centre
Research Session 3C: Urban Labor Markets (MC 13-121)
Chair: Louise Fox (TBC), Senior Non-Resident Fellow, Africa Growth Initiative, Brookings
For the full agenda and list of speakers, visit the 8th Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference page.
