Urban and Regional Working Group
About
Explore the role of geographical space on economics and development, as well as the role of cities and the emerging importance of the political economy of urbanization.
Coordinators:
Soma Sarkar (Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India)
Andrea Belmartino (Gran Sasso Science Institute, Italy)
Mary Mbugua (Co-operative University of Kenya)
Contact
urban[@]youngscholarsinitiative.org
Mandate (2024)
Research themes
- Urban Informality and Urban Governance
- Spatial Restructuring and Urban Inequality
- Urban & Regional Resilience
- Innovation and Technology in Cities and Regions
- Sustainable Cities and the Green Transition
- Urban Network and Access to Oportunities
- Neoliberal Reforms and Urban Development in Global South
- Local Fiscal Austerity, Taxation and Governing
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Peri-Urbanization
Research Questions
- How can regions transition into a green economy?
- How can cities management the increasing climate vulnerability?
- How spatial inequality changed during the last decades?
- How the global economy interferes with the connections between urban and rural areas?
- How will technological change and innovations impact on the organisation of economies across space?
- How can we rethink, reimagine and remake local economic development and policy in a way that works for most of the people and territories?
- How do housing market dynamics influence local and regional economic resilience in the face of challenges such as economic downturns, demographic shifts, and environmental pressures?
- How do urban systems respond to and recover from crises and austerity, such as pandemics, economic recessions, or natural disasters, and what mechanisms are employed to enhance their resilience?
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Projects Planned
- Workshop on Globalized agricultural market expansion and their effects on cities networks.
- Young Scholar session in the VI Meeting of Regional Science in Ecuador
- Workshop: Understanding peri urbanisation in the cities of South India
- Degrowth Workshop (co-joint project with Economic Development Working group)
- YSI Workshop on the Role of Social and Solidarity Economy in Regional Social-Economic Wellbeing in Rwanda, Africa.
- Young Scholars workshop alongside International Economic Development Council Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado.
- Young Scholar session in the II RSA- KIRDSA Conference
- Urbanisation and Poverty Reduction Conference
- YSI-RSA Workshop – Sustainable pathways in CEE and SEE regional transition
Existing partnerships and cooperation
- Regional Studies Association (RSA)
- International Input-Output Association (IIOA)
- Geography of Innovation Group (GeoInno)
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
- The Urban Affairs Association (UAA)
- American Association of Geographers (AAG)
- Knowledge, Innovation, Research and Development in South America (KIRDSA) RSA Network
- Red Pymes Mercosur
- Regional Science Ecuadorian Network
- Institute for Public Action
Projects
You’re welcome to join any webinar or reading group at any time. You’re also invited to apply to present or participate in an any in-person workshop in your area.Â
UpcomingÂ
News
The latest updates and announcements, sent out to all working group members via email.
