Over the course of the pandemic, the bustling, busy city spaces of the world have – for long periods – lain empty as citizens retreated indoors to shelter from the virus. These empty spaces and closed doors have become a powerful, visible symbol of the impacts of the pandemic, which have been felt keenly by the UK’s eleven “Core Cities” of Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield.
Many readers will be familiar with the game SimCity. You play an omnipotent mayor, laying roads, planning infrastructure, and zoning land to grow your city and attract “Sims”, the inhabitants of your marvel creation. With good planning, your city prospers, Sims are happy, and you earn “Simoleons” (SimCity’s currency) to develop your city further. That is, of course, barring the occasional zombie apocalypse.
México es uno de los países más urbanizados de América Latina y la OCDE. Con la población urbana que se ha duplicado en las últimas tres décadas, hoy en día, cuatro de cada cinco mexicanos viven en una ciudad. Las áreas urbanas generan casi el 90% del PIB en México y representan el 83% de la fuerza laboral formal.
Mexico is one of the most urbanised countries in Latin America and the OECD. With the urban population doubling over the last three decades, today, four out of five Mexicans live in a city. Urban areas generate nearly 90% of GDP in Mexico and account for 83% of the formal workforce.
The OECD launched the Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative in March 2016 in response to the growing gap between the rich and poor. This initiative has helped governments assess inequality, living standards and broader well-being, and design policy packages that promote equity and growth.
The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the need to rethink urban policies in a greener and more inclusive way, while improving environmental quality, fostering economic growth and job creation. The circular economy can play an important role for Granada in Spain.
