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1. Can you tackle poverty without taking on place?

Author:
Solomon Greene
Publication Date:
06-2016
Content Type:
Commentary and Analysis
Institution:
Urban Institute
Abstract:
Earlier this month, House Republicans released a new plan to fight poverty and help Americans move up the economic ladder. The plan begins and ends with the premise that “The American Dream is the idea that, no matter who you are or where you come from, if you work hard and give it your all, you will succeed.” In between, however, there is scant mention of the role that place (i.e., where you come from) plays in perpetuating poverty or shaping economic opportunity. This is a glaring omission, especially in light of the plan’s insistence on grounding poverty-reduction policies in the best available evidence. The evidence shows that geography plays a powerful role in determining life outcomes in the United States. Better understanding the mechanisms by which zip codes determine destiny and identifying effective strategies to sever the connection between poverty and place should be central to any federal antipoverty plan.
Topic:
Development, Economics, and Poverty
Political Geography:
North America and United States of America

2. To foster sustainable development, cities need data—and permission to use it

Author:
Solomon Greene, Benjamin Edwards, and G. Thomas Kingsley
Publication Date:
05-2016
Content Type:
Commentary and Analysis
Institution:
Urban Institute
Abstract:
Cities are where sustainable development challenges like poverty and disaster risk are felt most acutely, particularly as the world’s population shifts to urban areas. But cities can also be incubators for the policies to address those challenges, and local leaders increasingly hold the keys to fostering inclusive growth and mitigating climate change. Fortunately, city leaders across the globe are rallying behind sustainable development in all its dimensions: environmental sustainability, economic opportunity, and social inclusion. Mayors and local leaders were instrumental in securing a dedicated goal on inclusive and sustainable cities in the United Nations’s 2030 Agenda and framework of 17 high-level Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), signed by all member states at a historic summit last September. Since then, hundreds of local leaders have made commitments to support SDGs in their cities, forming new global networks and designing local implementation plans.
Topic:
Economics, Environment, Sustainable Development Goals, and Cities
Political Geography:
Global Focus