Urbanization

by Taylor Hom

On Halloween, the United Nations Population Division reported the world’s population had reached seven billion. But as global population soars, many governments and communities struggle to accommodate rapid urban growth. People flock to cities as refugees of conflict, victims of natural disasters, or seekers of job opportunities. In 2008, for the first time in world history, more people lived in cities than in rural areas, and today, nearly one billion live in urban slums with that number projected to double by 2030. 

In this interview with economics professor Lisi Krall, we discuss economics, the idea of de-growth, capitalism, urbanization, the structure of economies, the morality of economics, and more. Krall is the author of Proving Up: Domesticating Land in U.S. History (SUNY, 2010). Here's a little bit about that book:

This week I'm highlighting this cool documentary series I spotted on Sundance channel called Cities on Speed. Produced by the Danish Film Festival, the series focuses on the megacities of Mumbai, Cairo, Shanghai, and Bogota, and covers how rapid urbanization for better or worse has affected these growing epicenters.

Although I haven't seen all 4 of the films yet, my viewing of the Bogota film was extremlely capitivating, and it would've been an injustice if I didn't put the rest of you Mantlers on to this as well.

For all you poor students who can't afford Sundance, while I don't support pirating, do enough digital digging and I'm sure you'll find it worthwile.

Shout to Superfuture

Full audio of the press conference of Reverend Jesse Jackson, born October 8, 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, an American civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and politician whose bids for the U.S.