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Mortality, Migration, and Rural Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa’s Urban Transition

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  • Sean FOX

    (University of Bristol, School of Geographical Sciences)

Abstract

The stylized facts of Africa's urban transition highlight the limitations of traditional economic models of urbanization. Recent research has provided evidence that demographic rather than economic processes provide a more compelling explanation for observed trends in the region. In particular, mortality decline appears to be both a necessary and sufficient condition for urbanization to occur and a key driver of urban growth more broadly. The accumulation of survey data over the past few decades and the development of new geospatial datasets that incorporate satellite imagery are facilitating new, more spatially nuanced insights into the dynamics of urban population change in the region. This offers opportunity to develop better policies for managing urban change than those adopted in the past, which placed a misguided emphasis on manipulating migration incentives with little evidence of positive benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Sean FOX, 2017. "Mortality, Migration, and Rural Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa’s Urban Transition," JODE - Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 83(1), pages 13-30, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:ctl:louvde:v:83:y:2017:i:1:p:13-30
    DOI: 10.1017/dem.2016.29
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    Cited by:

    1. de la Croix, David & Gobbi, Paula E., 2022. "Population homeostasis in sub-Saharan Africa," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    2. James Duminy, 2023. "Critical Commentary: Beyond growth and density: Recentring the demographic drivers of urban health and risk in the global south," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(8), pages 1365-1376, June.
    3. Owen Crankshaw & Jacqueline Borel-Saladin, 2019. "Causes of urbanisation and counter-urbanisation in Zambia: Natural population increase or migration?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(10), pages 2005-2020, August.
    4. Ilija Gubic & Oana Baloi, 2019. "Implementing the New Urban Agenda in Rwanda: Nation-Wide Public Space Initiatives," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(2), pages 223-236.
    5. Sean Fox & Robin Bloch & Jose Monroy, 2018. "Understanding the dynamics of Nigeria’s urban transition: A refutation of the ‘stalled urbanisation’ hypothesis," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 55(5), pages 947-964, April.

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