Building Prosperity: The Centrality of Housing in Economic Development

This book is a much-needed account, with numerous detailed examples, of the role of housing in economic growth and development by an author in a unique position to understand its importance and the practical measures for delivering that growth.

While the linkages between housing and the macroeconomic environment in developed countries has been studied, the case of developing and transitional countries has been mostly overlooked. The author establishes these linkages with great clarity, supported by detailed case studies chosen to reflect regional diversity as well as differences in socio-economic development and political systems. On the basis of this analysis, the author goes on to develop specific policies and practices to enable governments to enhance the contribution of housing in economic growth.

Dr Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka is Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).