Metropolises require economic strategy

IUESA: Referring to the international conference on urban economy, he said one of the particular issues considered was developmental dimensions of metropolises.

Saying that there were few metropolises with million-population last century, but there are about 300 metropolitan areas today, he further said there are 37 large cities, each of them with more than 10 million people, in the world.

Emphasizing that we can claim that “nation-states” of metropolitan areas are the most important geographical units in the field of developmental and economic activities, the official said it should be noted that nationally, more than 50 percent of national revenues are created in metropolises. This figure is 55 percent in developing countries and 85 percent in the developed ones as well.

Stating that the share of metropolises in GDP is more than their population share, the head of IUESA added for instance, the of cities’ share of GPD is more than 50 percent in countries with more than 30 percent urbanization.

Adding that 10 large metropolises in the world, with 2.6 percent of global population, have devoted 21 percent of economic activities to themselves, he said on the other hand, 50 metropolitan areas, with 7 percent of the world population, have devoted nearly 40 percent of economic activities to themselves.

The head of IUESA said one of the most important reasons of stunning growth and development of metropolises is the emphasis of these areas on the production of knowledge and technology. These geographical areas absorb people with all of their skills and experiences and provide unique opportunities, skills, and creativities for the development of metropolitan areas.

Highlighting that metropolises are objective realities and necessary planning should be adopted for its development appropriate with economic frameworks, he said metropolises need economic strategy originated from urban management.

It is noteworthy that International Conference on Economy Urban was held on May 19 in Tehran where Iranian and foreign academicians as well as experts will participate, the member of Expediency Council said the major organizer of the event is Iran Urban Economics Scientific Association IUESA. Notable among participants and contributors are Interior Ministry, Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Imam Sadiq University, Tehran City Council, Qazvin Municipality, Shiraz Municipality, University of Jihad, Asian Mayors Forum, UNESCO, UCLG/MEWA, and METROPOLISE.

“Economy of smart city”, “economy of urban tourism”, “economy of urban infrastructures”, “economic culture of city and citizenship education”, “urban dilemmas, the environment, and air pollution, management of human capital development and urban economy, banking systems, social banking, and urban economy, modeling resistance economy in cities and urban passive defense, pricing urban services, financing, and municipal revenues, management of municipal service, organizations of urban management, and private sector” were the topics of this conference.