Abstract
This chapter summarises the key findings and arguments of the book and offers a revised post-Malthusian theoretical framework with a focus on urbanisation. The chapter further discusses the contribution of the book to the literature on urban theories and the linkages between historical urban challenges and contemporary risks caused by continuing urban sprawl. The findings in this book support some of the concerns raised by Lipton’s critics. In particular, the results of the analyses showed that macro-level urban processes measured by the rate of urban growth and pace of urbanisation can have important negative effects on human development. Despite lessons from the past, rapid urban growth continues to be a threat to the environment and human health. Finally, this chapter provides a discussion of the key obstacles to the sustainable development agenda, with a special focus on five policy areas: population size and growth, urbanisation, food security risks, human capital and inequalities.
The wealth and power of nations are, after all, only desirable as they contribute to happiness (Malthus 1826, p. 391).
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Szabo, S. (2016). Linking Theory and Practice. In: Urbanisation and Inequalities in a Post-Malthusian Context. SpringerBriefs in Population Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26571-1_6
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