Questioning urban pessimism: a decade of HSRC research on cities

findings and insights generated. Many of these have fed into the public domain through the National Development Plan, the Integrated Urban Development Framework, the Cities Support Programme, UN-Habitat, parliamentary inquiries and the policies of particular provinces and metropolitan municipalities. The chapter begins by examining the perception that the impact of urbanisation on society is mostly detrimental because the population pressures are excessive. It then explores the contrary argument that urbanisation has advantages for the economy and human development. Both sections outline the core propositions, available evidence and policy experience. HSRC researchers have made contributions to all three aspects theory, evidence and policy.