Page 21 - U4SSC Simple ways to be smart

healthcare, and access to ICTs. This rapid urbanization was not planned. As a result, there has
been informal agglomeration around cities, creating slums which amplifies inequality and
segregation so that not everyone has benefitted from urbanization. On the other hand, the
cities sprawl far from the city centres. This impacts the overall productivity of cities, affecting
commute times and increasing emissions.

A political turning point is approaching, where cities and territories, as a consequence of rapid
urbanization, are gaining power and are beginning to introduce an agenda that aligns with the
SDG’s as a development framework. These political changes are expected to generate instability
in the region. Infrastructure is under pressure as a result of unplanned urbanization, but the
investments needed to improve it require stability. A political agenda for development is needed
that empowers local and also federal government with more economic independence, but with
more specific guidelines and a better planning process. The ICT agenda needs to be central in
these development plans.

2.1.4 Small and medium-sized cities

Factors such as population, population density, number of settlements, economic performance
c
and infrastructure are used to classify cities. According to the "functional definition", a ity is
not measured only in terms of size and population. As cities act as administrative, commercial,
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religious, and cultural centers for their surroundings, their role in a political, economic, and cultural
context determines their position. Therefore, cities might be considered small or smaller in terms
of resources such as human, financial and natural resources.

For smaller cities, smart interventions that enable better services with fewer resources would be
helpful. Such cities do not have excess resources with which to experiment, so that proven solutions,
and solutions that can be adapted to local resources would be beneficial. For smaller cities, shared
services (like cloud storage) and solutions can offer access to advanced technologies without the
need for dedicated infrastructure. Working in collaboration with other neighbouring cities might
enable cities to share the cost of developing smart solutions.

2.1.5 Shrinking cities

In many parts of the world, cities are shrinking, with significantly declining populations. De-
industrialisation and out-migration are some of the reasons that cities shrink, often related to
changing economic conditions and structural shifts. In the United States, this problem is most
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commonly associated with the Rust Belt, while parts of Eastern Europe and Japan also experience
similar problems. Shrinking cities do not necessarily reflect a shrinking national population, in some
countries people choose to move to bigger cities where there are better facilities and opportunities.

Shrinking cities face challenges because the infrastructure was built to support a larger population,
and its maintenance can become a serious concern. They also struggle to continue to deliver
high levels of service to all areas of the city and may have to try to consolidate the population

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