Slums – Past, Present and Future

In this lecture Eugenie Birch demonstrates the growth of slums and associated solutions over time, explaining the reasons for their formation and the various approaches employed to improve substandard conditions.She argues that, as shown by history, comprehensive planning that includes attention to providing sufficient land and services is essential for improved living conditions. Ameliorating slum conditions (i.e. what we call slum upgrading today) is an essential but not the sole component of addressing the problems caused by rapid urbanization overtime. In conclusion Birch suggest that constructive approaches that include enhancing the supply of land and housing, dealing with land transactions and creating a standard regulatory environment have been and will be key elements of successful urban policy of the past and hold promise for addressing issues of the present and future.Eugenie L. Birch, Nussdorf Professor of Urban Research, Department of City and Regional Planning, School of Design, University of Pennsylvania; co-Director, Penn Institute for Urban Research, has written extensively on issues of planning history, housing reform and global urbanization. Most recently, she was a co-convenor, along with the Economist Intelligence Unit and the Forum for the Future of the Transforming the Future of Cities Seminar, Bellagio Center, August 2013 funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.