How do you explain urban economic development to the public?

1 What is urban economic development?

Urban economic development is the process of improving the economic well-being and quality of life of people living and working in urban areas. It involves creating and enhancing the conditions for economic growth, innovation, and competitiveness, as well as addressing the social and environmental impacts of urbanization. Urban economic development can take many forms, such as attracting and retaining businesses, supporting entrepreneurship, investing in infrastructure and services, promoting cultural and creative industries, fostering social inclusion and equity, and enhancing urban resilience and sustainability.

2 Why is urban economic development important?

Urban economic development is important because it affects the lives and livelihoods of millions of people around the world. As more and more people move to cities, urban areas become the engines of economic activity, innovation, and opportunity, as well as the sources of social and environmental challenges. Urban economic development can help cities harness their potential and overcome their problems, by creating more jobs, income, and wealth, improving living standards and well-being, reducing poverty and inequality, enhancing social cohesion and diversity, and protecting the natural environment and resources.

3 How do you measure urban economic development?

Measuring urban economic development is not a simple task, as it involves many dimensions and indicators that may differ depending on context, objectives, and stakeholders. Common methods of measuring urban economic development include using aggregate indicators like GDP or GVA to capture the size and performance of the urban economy, sectoral indicators such as employment or output to assess the contribution of different industries, spatial indicators such as density or diversity to evaluate the distribution of economic activities across the urban area, social indicators like income or education to measure the impact of economic development on residents' well-being, and environmental indicators like emissions or energy use to monitor the effects of economic development on the environment.

4 How do you plan for urban economic development?

Urban economic development is not a spontaneous or automatic process. It requires deliberate and strategic planning, based on a clear vision, goals, and priorities, as well as a comprehensive analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the urban area. Urban economic development planning also involves engaging and collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders, such as public authorities, private sector, civil society, academia, and international organizations, to ensure alignment, coordination, and participation in the decision-making and implementation processes. Urban economic development planning can take various forms and scales, such as urban economic strategies, policies, programs, projects, or initiatives, depending on the scope, focus, and resources available.

5 How do you communicate urban economic development to the public?

Communicating urban economic development to the public can be challenging, as it is often seen as an abstract, technical, or irrelevant topic. To make it more accessible and understandable, use simple and clear language, avoiding jargon and acronyms. Tell stories and provide examples of successes and challenges in different contexts. Visuals and data can also be used to present information in attractive and interactive formats. Additionally, feedback and dialogue should be encouraged to invite the public to share their opinions, questions, and suggestions on urban economic development. This will provide opportunities for discussion and debate.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?