A large literature documents the positive influence of a city's skill structure on its rate of economic growth. By contrast, the effect of a city's age structure on its economic growth has been a hitherto largely neglected area of research. This paper hypothesizes that cities with more...

This book presents an incisive outline of the historical development and geography of cities. It focuses on three themes that constitute essential foundations for any understanding of urban form and function. These are: (a) the shifting patterns of urbanization through historical time, (b) the...

The recent global diffusion of new technologies, combined with the use of big data analytics, can help policymakers promote the effective development of future cities that provide living and work environments in which citizens can thrive. In particular, innovative applications of geospatial and...

Global financial conditions have improved substantially since July 2012, a reflection of the cumulative steps taken by high-income countries' central banks. Gross capital flows to developing countries, which weakened in mid-2012 due to Euro area turmoil, bounced back in the second half of the...

External financing conditions for developing countries have been remarkably favorable in recent months, reflecting expectations of a more drawn-out period of monetary policy accommodation in high-income countries and some narrowing of external vulnerabilities. Additional easing by the European...