Charter Cities Podcast

Ethiopia's Developmental State model has garnered attention for its ambitious goals and efforts to transform the economy, but has it been successful? Joining us today is Tom Lavers, Senior lecturer in Politics and Development at The University of Manchester, to help navigate this complex topic. Tom is a dedicated researcher whose passion lies in exploring the intricate interplay between social and political dynamics amid structural shifts. His research is characterized by a nuanced investigation into the changing socio-political landscapes and the evolving relationships between states and societies. In our conversation, we delve into Ethiopia's political coalition shifts and explore the government's achievements and setbacks in fostering development. We discuss Ethiopia’s complex historical roots, how statehood has significantly shaped Ethiopia's development trajectory, the distributive crisis in Ethiopia, and the factors contributing to Ethiopia's current challenges. Gain valuable insights into the country’s industrial landscape, developmental strategies, geographical equity hurdles, urbanization shifts, and much more. Tune in for a comprehensive exploration of Ethiopia's developmental journey with expert Tom Lavers! Key Points From This Episode:The definition of a developmental state and typical examples.Learn what a distributive crisis is and how it applies to Ethiopia.An overview of the successes and failures of Ethiopia’s government.Top-down versus bottom-up factors contributing to Ethiopia’s crisis.How centuries of statehood shaped Ethiopia’s developmental drive.Explore the evolution of Ethiopia’s land and agricultural sector.Ethiopia's equity and ethnically inclusive developmental strategies.Valuable insights into Ethiopia’s industrial landscape.Urbanization, industrialization, and the complex interplay with politics.Emerging trends and dynamics of urbanization in Ethiopia.Tom shares details about his next upcoming project.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Tom Lavers on LinkedInThe University of ManchesterThe Global Development Institute (GDI) Ethiopia's Developmental State: Political Order and Distributive CrisisSeeing like a State The NYU Marron InstituteCharter Cities InstituteCharter Cities Institute on FacebookCharter Cities Institute on X

Lant Pritchett, distinguished economist and thought leader in development economics, discusses growth diagnostics, limitations of development metrics, and the potential of charter cities for sustainable growth. Topics include the misallocation of talent, challenges in developing countries, the significance of urbanization, the role of institutions, labor mobility, effective philanthropy, and national development.

On today's Charter Cities episode, host Jeffrey Mason is joined by colleagues Heba Elhanafy and Matthew McCartney to unpack the New Africa's Bad Urban Laws project. This initiative dissects laws in African cities hindering growth and community well-being. Additionally, Jeffrey reminds listeners of the upcoming Africa's New City Summit in Kigali, Rwanda. The team dives deep, discussing the reasons for and effects of detrimental urban laws, using instances like Zambia's land ownership as an example. Tune in for an insightful discussion on urban policies in Africa.Key Points From This Episode:How urban laws negatively affect African urban environments across fiscal, administrative, and spatial planningThe project exposes bad urban laws and questions their persistent existence in African citiesBad urban laws persist due to misunderstandings, political interests, and distributional benefitsHow Zambia's outdated land ownership laws, rooted in colonial times, benefit a few and hinder economic developmentEgypt's attempt to modernize land laws led to unique urban challenges affecting millionsUrban physician reforms laws with expertise; urban politician navigates political realities for urban changesInteractive map showcases bad urban laws, allows user contributions for more awarenessCCI's research aims for awareness through interactive maps and practical urban reformLinks Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Africas New Cities SummitCharter Cities InstituteCharter Cities Institute on FacebookCharter Cities Institute on Twitter

Coming up on today's episode of Charter Cities, we have a very special guest joining host Mark Lutter: Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum. In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of community building and the importance of creating meaningful connections within cities and online communities. We explore the challenges and successes of building communities in different contexts, from crypto communities to health tribes. With insights from Vitalik's own experiences and observations, we discuss the value of diversity, the impact of infrastructure on small towns, and the need for community filters. Stay tuned for an enriching conversation on the power of communities in shaping our lives and the future of cities.Key Points From This Episode:Factors driving relocation due to cost of livingEmotional disconnect from home countriesGlobal impact of the crypto industryNavigating immigration complexitiesGrowing trend of purposeful location choices for hubsZuzalu community's remarkable success storySignificance of local insights in community buildingDiverse dynamics within health-focused communitiesCautions against hasty expansion and misuse of Zozalu's nameStructured growth imperative as project scalesRegional influencers and quest for secure refugesUrban and rural benefits of clusteringInfrastructure's role in enhancing small town appealSpecial network effects in close-knit communitiesDigital communities united by shared valuesSovereignty quest challenges and complexitiesCommunity's pivotal role in city developmentNavigating delegation challenges and preventing tyrannyLinks Mentioned in Today’s Episode:ZuzaluVitalik on TwitterVitalik on MediumCharter Cities InstituteCharter Cities Institute on FacebookCharter Cities Institute on Twitter

Host Jeffrey Mason welcomes esteemed guests Martin Rama and Yue Li to another enthralling episode of Charter Cities. Together, they embark on a deep exploration of the intriguing world of private cities, delving into their impact on urban agglomerations and the delicate interplay with local governments. Tune in today to hear their insights on the successes and challenges that private cities face, as well as the potentials that lie ahead. Through engaging discussions and vivid examples, our hosts and guests will illustrate the multifaceted landscape of private urban development. Martin and Yue share their perspectives on how private actors are reshaping urban environments and the intricate dynamics that govern these relationships. As our episode unfolds, the conversation navigates the complexities of urban development, revealing the key facts and insights surrounding this captivating subject. Thanks for listening!Key Points From This Episode:The significance of private cities as major urban agglomerations with political constituenciesThe push for a voice and a shift towards traditional cities as the population growsResistance against converting successful private cities into traditional onesStrategic underinvestment by private actors in services, relying on government provisionEvolution of institutions between private actors and local governmentsDesigning private cities to offer improved services and environmentsWillingness of residents and firms to pay a premium for landBenefits for developers or companies through increased land valueExploration of different private city models and demographic focusesA historical look at private cities and their reemergence in modern timesExamples of private cities in both advanced and developing countriesAn overview of private cities and their types in various countriesFocus on initial research in South Asia, including India and PakistanIndonesia's status as the country with the highest number of private citiesCategorization into company towns, strategic cities, and mixed citiesPrevalence of strategic cities in Indonesia, with some in IndiaAn analysis of economic activities and government support in private citiesVarious economic activities spearheaded by the private sectorEfforts to seek favorable treatment from the governmentThe role of special economic zones and infrastructure supportStrategies to attract specific industries and investorsThe urgent need for empirical research on economic dynamics and inequalityTentative conclusions and a call for further researchDefinitions and challenges associated with private citiesContradictions with typical city governance run by local governmentThe leading role played by private actors in planning, financing, and service operationChallenging but not new conventional notions of city governancePublic-private partnerships (PPPs) in private city governanceTopological studies, inventories, and governance evolution within private citiesVariations in roles and functions between the private sector and local governmentLand value capture and equity issues in private city developmentThe viability and underinvestment associated with value capture limitationsCreative equity solutions, such as preserving original residents or project sharesExploration of alternative value recovery and fairness mechanismsThe challenges faced by local governments in designing effective value capture strategiesLinks Mentioned in Today’s Episode:The Asian Infrastructure Investment BankMartin Rama on The World BankMartin Rama on LinkedInCharter Cities InstituteCharter Cities Institute on FacebookCharter Cities Institute on Twitter

Charter Cities Institute Founder and Chairman Mark Lutter returns to the podcast to share his perspective on network states, charter city trends, and more. Mark is also the CEO of Braavos Cities, a charter city development company partnering with local landowners and a leading organizer of Zuzalu, a new pop-up city in Montenegro. Tune in today to hear Mark’s insights on existing network states and why they have either succeeded or failed. You’ll also learn about some of the challenges associated with attracting appropriate talent to cities in order to facilitate growth. Mark shares his experience at Zuzalu and describes the flat hierarchical structure that was made possible there. Using the metaphor of gardening instead of carpentry, Mark illustrates his unique approach to building network cities. Hear how Mark differs from others in the charter city space on the matter of location and his analysis of the global response to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. As our episode draws to a close, Mark reveals his thoughts on restarting struggling economies, finding buy-in from local government, and more. Thanks for listening!Key Points From This Episode:An introduction to today’s episode with CCI Founder and Chairman Mark Lutter. What Zuzali is and how it came together with reference to Vitalik Buterin and Balaji Srinivasan.Defining the terms ‘pop up city’, ‘pop up village’, and ‘network state’. How the historical failures of network-type states influence Mark’s feelings.Examining the examples of Israel, Utah, Salt Lake City, and Jonestown.Considering why San Francisco is especially susceptible to cults.Why Mark returned from Montenegro and Zuzalu with optimism for network states.How the internet can behave as a giant sorting mechanism.His predictions for how sorting mechanisms will change in the future.The problem of attracting appropriate talent to cities. Why Montenegro was the chosen location for Zuzalu. Building Zuzalu whilst building local relationships.The role of the host government in the success of Zuzalu. Where the name Zuzalu came from.Flat status hierarchies in network cities and other agglomerates.How they managed to sustain a flat hierarchy at Zuzalu. What it means to think like a gardener and not a carpenter.What Braavos Cities is and what it aims to do.Where Mark differs from other folks in the charter city space on the matter of location.Two migration patterns to tap into. The greatest successes of the COVID-19 pandemic and what could have been adopted instead.Distinguishing between Charter Cities Institute and Braavos Cities.Restarting an economy through leveraging comparative advantage.Getting buy-in from local government.Job creation and investment. The Zanzibar project that Mark is excited about at the moment.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Mark LutterMark Lutter on TwitterMark Lutter on MediumMark Lutter EmailBraavos CitiesZuzaluVitalik ButerinBalaji SrinivasanVictoria Harbor GroupScott Alexander on InstagramTyler Cowen on TwitterCharter Cities InstituteCharter Cities Institute on FacebookCharter Cities Institute on Twitter

Industrialization has a myriad of consequences that have been studied and speculated upon from the very start. In this episode, Dr. Elliott Green joins us to discuss the impact of industrialization on ethnic identity and diversity. Dr. Green is a political scientist, Africanist, and associate professor in the Department of International Development at The London School of Economics. He is also the author of the book Industrialization and Assimilation and today, we learn about his research and insights on the topic. We delve into the Marx-Geller take on industrialization and find out how Dr. Green conceptualizes it and why he promotes pro-industrialization. We discuss the implications of urbanization without industrialization in Africa and how people use their rural identities as insurance against de-urbanization before investigating the cause of “under-urbanization” in countries like Kenya and Uganda. From the measures of industrialization and its relationship to economic growth and identity formation to the effect of decentralization on assimilation, Dr. Green tackles it all! Tune in for this insightful conversation on all things industrialization and identity.Key Points From This Episode:•   Introducing political scientist and Africanist, Dr. Elliott Green•   The topic investigated in his book Industrialization and Assimilation: the consequence of Industrialization in terms of ethnic diversity.•   How Dr. Green’s take on industrialization differs from that of Marx and Geller.•   Why we have differing levels of ethnic diversity across the world.•   The implications of urbanization without industrialization in Africa.•   Cases of de-urbanization in Africa and how people use their rural identities as insurance against it.•   Which African regions have the highest and lowest levels of urbanization.•   What can be attributed to the “under-urbanization” of countries like Kenya and Uganda.•   Why Dr. Green promotes pro-industrialization and how he conceptualizes industrialization.•   The relationship between economic growth and industrialization.•   Other measures of industrialization.•   How industrialization generates broader processes of identity formation, irrespective of politics and religion.•   The overlap of religious and ethnic identities in 20th century Turkey.•   Instances where industrialization and nation-building do and don’t go hand in hand.•   Government attempts to create ethnically neutral cities.•   Why trust is essential for development.•   Dr. Green’s take on the “markets make us moral” hypothesis.•   To what extent decentralization can affect assimilation or ethnic change.•   How the “completion” of industrialization will (or won’t) impact identity.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Dr. Elliott GreenIndustrialization and AssimilationHa-Joon ChangMagnetic Mountain: Stalinism as a CivilizationNations, States, and ViolenceCharter Cities InstituteCharter Cities Institute on FacebookCharter Cities Institute on Twitter

We are joined on the show today by Joe McReynolds, co-author of Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City, and we have an extensive conversation about the characteristics of Tokyo urbanism, the role of policy in the city, lessons that may be applied to charter cities, and also some of Joe's thoughts on China's current military capabilities. Joe makes a strong argument for avoiding culturally essentialist understandings of Tokyo, and also plots how the history of Tokyo eschews western understandings of urban planning strategies. We touch on the nature of Tokyo neighborhoods, rental and ownership, greenery and beautification, and much more. To finish off this fascinating chat, we turn to Joe's interest and involvement in Chinese affairs and reflect on the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on China's ambitions. So to catch all this and more in this lively and eye-opening chat with Joe, press play!Key Points From This Episode:•   A look at Joe's two areas of expertise; urbanism in Tokyo and Chinese National security. •   Joe unpacks the different forms of relevant urbanism.•   The complexity of Tokyo's urbanism and how it stretches typical western paradigms.•   The influence of policy and design on Tokyo and its neighborhoods.•   Norms around housing, upkeep, and building standards in Tokyo.•   Ownership and renting; Joe talks about the importance of landlords in Tokyo.•   Shinto practices and the traditions that subtly bind neighborhood communities.•   Tokyo residents' attitudes towards the external impacts on individual lifestyles.•   Joe's thoughts on greenery in Tokyo.•   Lessons from Tokyo for charter cities and Joe's passion for these projects. •   The impact of international restrictions on semiconductor exports to China.•   Exploring the example that Russia's war with Ukraine is setting for China.•   Joe talks a little bit about Ephemerisle and its representation of competitive governance.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Joe McReynoldsJoe McReynolds on TwitterEmergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous CityChina's Evolving Military StrategyKeio UniversityThe Jamestown FoundationEphemerisleJeffrey MasonKurtis LockhartCharter Cities InstituteCharter Cities Institute on FacebookCharter Cities Institute on Twitter

What do high education and low fertility rates have in common? According to today’s guest, Charlie Robertson, they are both positively correlated with economic growth. In today’s episode, Charlie shares the reasons why he believes that countries that don’t get their fertility rates down to below 3 children per woman and those that don’t have adult literacy rates above 70% are doomed to remain trapped in poverty. Join us for a round-the-world trip where Charlie delves into the history of South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the West, and offers his explanation for why some countries have flourished while others have floundered. Charlie is the Global Chief Economist at Renaissance Capital and the author of The Fastest Billion and The Time-Travelling Economist. Key Points From This Episode: •   Understanding economic trends in Africa over the past few years.•   Factors that lead to the creation of urban slums.•   Charlie’s hypothesis on the link between fertility and economic growth.•   What Charlie sees as the optimal fertility rate.•   Basic adult literacy rates in Sub-Saharan African countries when they were decolonized.•   A statistic that highlights the progress that has been made on the education front globally.•   Why education is imperative for growth.•   The correlation between education and fertility.•   The importance of correctly sequencing educational priorities.•   An explanation of the economic success being experienced in the Philippines.•   Comparing the rate of economic growth in India and China.•   Reasons why Pakistan hasn’t kept up with India’s levels of economic growth.•   Explaining Sri Lanka’s downfall.•   Charlie’s thoughts on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.•   The energy financing issues facing African countries.•   Challenges of using green energy as a baseload power source.•   Why Charlie believes governments should be focusing on providing electricity to factories rather than homes.•   Benefits of decentralized energy systems.•   The potential of municipal-level financing approaches. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Charlie Robertson on LinkedInRenaissance CapitalThe Fastest BillionThe Time-Travelling EconomistCharter Cities InstituteCharter Cities Institute on FacebookCharter Cities Institute on Twitter

The West’s misconceptions about Africa are vast, particularly when it comes to the realm of business. Today we are joined by Dr. Deanne de Vries, who has worked across the continent in various capacities for over 30 years. She is currently an advisor for firms looking to enter the African market and is the author of Africa: Open for Business. In this episode, Deanne fills us in on the challenges and the exciting opportunities for doing business in Africa, sharing insights into the evolving tech and startup scenes. We discuss Africa's agricultural and manufacturing sectors, and Deanne breaks down what governments need to do to boost these industries. To hear about the community-centric focus of African business and to find out why on-the-ground integrated local presence is far more valuable than any data, tune in!Key Points From This Episode:•   The history of Deanne de Vries’ work in Africa.•   The ABC of learning to do business in unfamiliar territory: Appetite, Bandwidth, and Capital.•   The evolution of the African tech scene.•   The focus of Africa’s startup scene.•   The potential for French-speaking West Africa to rise in the tech sector.•   What governments can do to boost agricultural productivity in Africa.•   The importance of access to the market, in terms of agriculture.•   The challenges faced by Africa’s manufacturing industry.•   Why African business can’t be judged by statistics alone.•   The number one key to success for doing business in Africa.•   Deanne shares a case study to illustrate the importance of being on the ground.•   The potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area to promote business in Africa.•   The greatest Western misunderstandings about doing business in Africa.•   The challenge of data accuracy across Africa.•   What trumps data when it comes to doing business.•   The number one way to de-risk any deal in Africa.•   Deanne shares her chocolate chip cookie story.•   The impact of China's increasing presence across the continent.•   The influence of Turkey, Russia, and the UAE on Africa.•   How best to think about market entry in Africa.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Dr. Deanne de VriesDr. Deanne de Vries on LinkedInDr. Deanne de Vries on InstagramAfrica: Open for BusinessCharter Cities InstituteCharter Cities Institute on FacebookCharter Cities Institute on Twitter