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How does urbanization affect the human development index? A cross-country analysis

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  • Sabyasachi Tripathi

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics
    Adamas University)

Abstract

Higher economic development without urbanization is almost impossible. However, the magnitude of development can vary with the accuracy of the management of an urban area. Though several studies have established a positive effect of urbanization on economic growth, its impacts on the human development index (HDI) are unknown. In this context, we assessed the impacts of urbanization on the value of country-level HDI with a random effect Tobit and dynamic panel data estimations for 187 countries from 1990 to 2017. We found that overall, total urban populations, percentage of the urban populations, urban population growth rates, and percentage of the population living in million-plus agglomerations have a positive effect on the HDI values. The percentage of the urban population residing in the largest city of a country negatively affects the value of HDI. The analysis was also done by dividing countries based on their level of income. The percentage of urbanization is the most important measurement of urbanization having a positive impact on the HDI across countries separated by different income groups. The total urban population also has a positive effect on HDI except for upper-middle-income countries. However, all other measurements of urbanization have an ambiguous effect on HDI, suggesting the impacts of urbanization on HDI depend on different stages of development in a country. Among the control variables, higher emissions of carbon dioxide, fertility rate, GDP growth rate, level of inequality, and inflation rate negatively affect HDI, whereas higher foreign direct investment has a positive effect. Finally, policy options are prescribed to make an urban area more productive in higher economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabyasachi Tripathi, 2021. "How does urbanization affect the human development index? A cross-country analysis," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 1053-1080, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:apjors:v:5:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s41685-021-00211-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s41685-021-00211-w
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    2. Miranda-Lescano, Ronald & Muinelo-Gallo, Leonel & Roca-Sagales, Oriol, 2024. "Human development and inequalities: The importance of social public spending," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 363-377.
    3. Raufhon Salahodjaev & Bekhzod Djalilov & Iroda Bakieva & Islomjon Kobiljonov, 2024. "The Relationship between Natural Resource Abundance and Human Development in Belt and Road Initiative Countries: The Role of Financial Development," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(1), pages 45-52, January.
    4. Feifei Tan & Shasha Yang & Zhiyuan Niu, 2023. "The impact of urbanization on carbon emissions: both from heterogeneity and mechanism test," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(6), pages 4813-4829, June.
    5. Sabyasachi Tripathi & Moinak Maiti, 2023. "Does urbanization improve health outcomes: a cross country level analysis," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 277-316, March.
    6. Lu Liu & Yu Tian, 2022. "Compact Urban Form and Human Development: Retest Based on Heterogeneous Effects," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-14, February.
    7. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Yuan, Zihao, 2024. "Impact of energy poverty on public health: A non-linear study from an international perspective," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    8. Abbas, Syed Ali & Selvanathan, Saroja & Selvanathan, Eliyathamby A., 2023. "Structural transformation, urbanization, and remittances in developing countries: A panel VAR analysis," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 55-69.
    9. Megbowon Ebenezer T. & Mukarumbwa Peter & Ojo Oloruntimilehin S. & Ojeyinka Titus A., 2023. "Does Urbanization Matter For Poverty Reduction in Nigeria: An Empirical Evidence From Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Estimation," Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, Sciendo, vol. 33(3), pages 1-20, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Urbanization; Economic growth; Fertility rate; Human development index; Cross-country;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • R13 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General Equilibrium and Welfare Economic Analysis of Regional Economies

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