Cities and the Young

Cities matter. They account for 80 percent of global output, with the level of urbanization positively correlated with the level of economic development and quality of life.

The economic vitality of a city hinges upon having a young, educated, and innovative labor force. Studies in the United States identify the share of the population with a college degree as a major factor in a city’s growth rate. This is likely to be true elsewhere as well, especially in those cities in developed countries experiencing population aging, some at a very rapid pace. Cities need young people, especially talented ones.

Younger people need better access to the city as well. Most new jobs are created in cities, especially in cities that offer good living environments. In the United States, the number of jobs increased more than three times faster in metropolitan areas than elsewhere in recent years, and high-wage jobs are concentrated in a small number of cities.

Despite this mutual need, the match between young people and the cities in which they would like to reside needs strengthening. In addition to job opportunities, younger people look for decent and affordable housing with good access to work, safety from violence and natural disasters, and cultural amenities and activities. Government has a role to play, especially in the areas of housing, mobility, and safety. While specific interventions may vary from city to city, better policies and effective enforcement of law and order will help in most cities.

Finally, well-functioning cities should be inclusive with respect to age, gender, ethnicity, vocation, and cultural background. A livable city should ideally have something for everyone, and something to which everyone can contribute. Restoring confidence in a better economic future for the young might hold a key to addressing the problem of intergenerational inequality.

Kyung-Hwan Kim is a Penn IUR Scholar and Professor of Economics at Sogang University where he has been on the faculty since 1988. He is a former President of Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements (KRIHS; 2013-2015), and a former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) of the Republic of Korea (2015- 2017).

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