Shedding new light on India's urbanisation

Better, smarter urban growth could be an economic opportunity for India worth up to 6% of GDP by 2050, according to our latest research which was launched in New Delhi on November 29 by Global Commissioners Nicholas Stern and Naina Lal Kidwai, and the Joint-Secretary of India’s Ministry for Urban Development Neeraj Mandloi. The report, Better Cities Better Growth: India’s Urban Opportunity undertakes a first-of-its-kind analysis drawing on satellite data of night-time lights to compare cities’ urban form with their economic growth. It finds that Indian cities that were more compact in 2002 experienced faster economic growth from 2002-2012. It recommends that the government reform land regulations, expand sustainable urban infrastructure, and strengthen local government accountability and financing. The report was developed by colleagues at ICRIER, UNC, WRI, and the Coalition for Urban Transitions.