This report is a major international study of how increasing urbanisation in the world is affecting the prospect of upward mobility for ordinary families and individuals. The study focuses on the key social and economic developments in three major global cities: London, Mexico City and Mumbai, and provides analysis on the current state of social mobility in each.
The report finds that India’s global success is owing to the power of its leading cities of which Mumbai is at the fore. However, as “two thirds of the population live on a bare 5% of the land”, the challenges of infrastructure and congestion in Mumbai have heightened, while poverty and slum-dwelling remain a persistent problem. The report concludes that the outlook for Mumbai is good: The opportunity for upward mobility is better than in London or Mexico City, and Mumbai?s financial position is strong even in the wake of the global financial crisis.
The Legatum Institute is pleased to publish this study by Legatum Institute Adjunct Fellow Joel Kotkin, which we believe with further the debate on urban development and social policy. The proposals contained within yield insights important for policymakers, political leaders, academics, and the media.