APL Seminar by Matthew McCartney (African School of Economics-Zanzibar): South Asia and Africa: A Puzzle of Contemporary Urbanization

On August 21, 2025, the Institute of Developing Economies, JETRO hosted an APL (Asia Power Lunch) seminar featuring Matthew McCartney from the African School of Economics-Zanzibar, who presented "South Asia and Africa: A Puzzle of Contemporary Urbanization." The seminar examined the contrasting urbanization patterns between these two regions, highlighting Africa rapid urbanization despite economic challenges and South Asia slower urbanization rate relative to its income level. McCartney analysis revealed that Africa urbanization since the 1970s has broken the traditional link with industrialization, occurring at much lower income levels than historical precedents, leading to challenges including inadequate infrastructure, urban slums housing 60% of Africa urban population, and congestion issues. Conversely, South Asia experiences unexpectedly slow urbanization rates, with Pakistan urban population projected to increase only marginally from 38.8% to 40.7% between 2023-2030. The research explored potential explanations including urban pull factors, rural push dynamics, ease of building regulations, comparative advantage structures, and relative rural poverty levels. This comparative analysis provides valuable insights for policymakers seeking to promote sustainable, economically productive urbanization strategies in developing regions.