Charter Cities Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Imagine a world where cities are not just places to live, but dynamic hubs of innovation, specialization, and cooperation. What if the cities of today are shaping the political and economic landscapes of tomorrow in ways we are only beginning to understand? In this episode, we dive deep into the heart of urban development with Ian Goldin, a leading expert on global development and urbanization. Ian is a renowned Professor of Globalisation and Development at the University of Oxford, where he directs the Oxford Martin School and the Oxford Martin Programme on Technological and Economic Change. In our conversation, we discuss the historical evolution of cities, the ways cities drive innovation, and the transition from manufacturing-based economies to knowledge-based economies. Explore the continued rise of major cities, the challenges they will face, the impact of remote work on urban clustering and economic geography, and how cities shape the politics of a country. Discover strategies for creating more accessible and equitable cities, why transport, education, and housing are vital, how urban policies need to change, mitigating climate change impacts through successful urbanization, and more! Tune in to uncover the hidden mechanisms behind urban success and the future of our rapidly urbanizing world with Ian Goldin!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Discover how cooperation, specialization, and innovation drive the evolution of cities.
• Unpack the role of diversity and connectivity in driving urban innovation.
• Learn about the key historical milestones in urban development.
• Impact of the Industrial Revolution on urban growth and specialization.
• Insights into the political implications of urban concentration.
• How cities can successfully transition from a manufacturing-based economy.
• Unpack the unique challenges faced by cities in developing countries.
• The future of industrialization and urbanization in a rapidly changing world.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ian Goldin

Ian Goldin on X

Oxford University 

Age of the City

The Death of Distance

Charter Cities Institute

Charter Cities Institute on Facebook

Charter Cities Institute on X

Liberalism in China has taken many twists and turns. And in today’s episode, we explore its fascinating history, from its early pre-Western roots, all the way to its current incarnation within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and beyond. Joining us to unpack this fascinating topic is Evan Osborne, Professor of Economics at Wright State University, and author of the highly informative new book Markets with Chinese Characteristics: Economic Liberalism in Modern China. We talk with Evan about Chinese economic thought, the country’s economic history, and the role that the West has played in China’s liberalism. Evan shares his insights on how Western economic liberalism was first introduced to China in the mid-nineteenth century, before expanding on subsequent waves of expansion and repression over the next century. We then discuss the rebirth of economic liberalism in China over the past five decades, what the future of economic and political liberalism might look like in China, and the potential long-term implications of this. To learn more about economic liberalism in modern China, and the complex history that has led to this point, be sure to tune in to this fascinating conversation!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing our guest, Evan Osborne, and his book, Markets with Chinese Characteristics.
• Unpacking the concept of economic liberalism.
• An overview of pre-Western, semi-liberal traditions in China.
• How China responded to Western ideas like those in The Wealth of Nations.
• The Chinese economy’s state of development with the arrival of Western powers.
• Freedoms that allowed Britain and other European countries to develop in key areas.
• The history of treaty ports and The Opium Wars.
• What subsequent political and economic transformations in China looked like.
• How these transformations spread into the interior of the country.
• Economic liberalization and how it helped facilitate a departure from imperial traditions.
• Unpacking the sharp turn against economic liberalism in China in the 20th century.
• How communist and Chinese theorists interpreted Adam Smith and other economic thinkers.
• What made the period of reform and openness in China possible after 1978.
• Why economic liberalization ended up being more successful in China than the Soviet Union.
• The Hokou (Household Registration) system in China; how relaxing it contributed to China’s rapid economic success.
• A closer look at the emergence of the entrepreneurial class and the business elite in China.
• The problem of corruption: how the Chinese government holds onto wealth and power.
• How Xi Jinping’s government has influenced liberalism in China.
• Evan’s predictions for the future of China’s politics and its economy.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Evan Osborne

Evan Osborne on LinkedIn

Markets with Chinese Characteristics: Economic Liberalism in Modern China

Adam Smith

The Wealth of Nations

On today's Charter Cities episode, host Jeffrey Mason is joined by colleagues Heba Elhanafy and Matthew McCartney to unpack the New Africa's Bad Urban Laws project. This initiative dissects laws in African cities hindering growth and community well-being. Additionally, Jeffrey reminds listeners of the upcoming Africa's New City Summit in Kigali, Rwanda. The team dives deep, discussing the reasons for and effects of detrimental urban laws, using instances like Zambia's land ownership as an example. Tune in for an insightful discussion on urban policies in Africa.

Key Points From This Episode:

• How urban laws negatively affect African urban environments across fiscal, administrative, and spatial planning
• The project exposes bad urban laws and questions their persistent existence in African cities
• Bad urban laws persist due to misunderstandings, political interests, and distributional benefits
• How Zambia's outdated land ownership laws, rooted in colonial times, benefit a few and hinder economic development
• Egypt's attempt to modernize land laws led to unique urban challenges affecting millions
• Urban physician reforms laws with expertise; urban politician navigates political realities for urban changes
• Interactive map showcases bad urban laws, allows user contributions for more awareness
• CCI's research aims for awareness through interactive maps and practical urban reform

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Africas New Cities Summit

Charter Cities Institute

Charter Cities Institute on Facebook

Charter Cities Institute on Twitter

Coming up on today's episode of Charter Cities, we have a very special guest joining host Mark Lutter: Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum. In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of community building and the importance of creating meaningful connections within cities and online communities. We explore the challenges and successes of building communities in different contexts, from crypto communities to health tribes. With insights from Vitalik's own experiences and observations, we discuss the value of diversity, the impact of infrastructure on small towns, and the need for community filters. Stay tuned for an enriching conversation on the power of communities in shaping our lives and the future of cities.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Factors driving relocation due to cost of living
• Emotional disconnect from home countries
• Global impact of the crypto industry
• Navigating immigration complexities
• Growing trend of purposeful location choices for hubs
• Zuzalu community's remarkable success story
• Significance of local insights in community building
• Diverse dynamics within health-focused communities
• Cautions against hasty expansion and misuse of Zozalu's name
• Structured growth imperative as project scales
• Regional influencers and quest for secure refuges
• Urban and rural benefits of clustering
• Infrastructure's role in enhancing small town appeal
• Special network effects in close-knit communities
• Digital communities united by shared values
• Sovereignty quest challenges and complexities
• Community's pivotal role in city development
• Navigating delegation challenges and preventing tyranny

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Zuzalu

Vitalik on Twitter

Vitalik on Medium

Charter Cities Institute

Charter Cities Institute on Facebook

Charter Cities Institute on Twitter

Host Jeffrey Mason welcomes esteemed guests Martin Rama and Yue Li to another enthralling episode of Charter Cities. Together, they embark on a deep exploration of the intriguing world of private cities, delving into their impact on urban agglomerations and the delicate interplay with local governments. Tune in today to hear their insights on the successes and challenges that private cities face, as well as the potentials that lie ahead. Through engaging discussions and vivid examples, our hosts and guests will illustrate the multifaceted landscape of private urban development. Martin and Yue share their perspectives on how private actors are reshaping urban environments and the intricate dynamics that govern these relationships. As our episode unfolds, the conversation navigates the complexities of urban development, revealing the key facts and insights surrounding this captivating subject. Thanks for listening!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The significance of private cities as major urban agglomerations with political constituencies
• The push for a voice and a shift towards traditional cities as the population grows
• Resistance against converting successful private cities into traditional ones
• Strategic underinvestment by private actors in services, relying on government provision
• Evolution of institutions between private actors and local governments
• Designing private cities to offer improved services and environments
• Willingness of residents and firms to pay a premium for land
• Benefits for developers or companies through increased land value
• Exploration of different private city models and demographic focuses
• A historical look at private cities and their reemergence in modern times
• Examples of private cities in both advanced and developing countries
• An overview of private cities and their types in various countries
• Focus on initial research in South Asia, including India and Pakistan
• Indonesia's status as the country with the highest number of private cities
• Categorization into company towns, strategic cities, and mixed cities
• Prevalence of strategic cities in Indonesia, with some in India
• An analysis of economic activities and government support in private cities
• Various economic activities spearheaded by the private sector
• Efforts to seek favorable treatment from the government
• The role of special economic zones and infrastructure support
• Strategies to attract specific industries and investors
• The urgent need for empirical research on economic dynamics and inequality
• Tentative conclusions and a call for further research
• Definitions and challenges associated with private cities
• Contradictions with typical city governance run by local government
• The leading role played by private actors in planning, financing, and service operation
• Challenging but not new conventional notions of city governance
• Public-private partnerships (PPPs) in private city governance
• Topological studies, inventories, and governance evolution within private cities
• Variations in roles and functions between the private sector and local government
• Land value capture and equity issues in private city development
• The viability and underinvestment associated with value capture limitations
• Creative equity solutions, such as preserving original residents or project shares
• Exploration of alternative value recovery and fairness mechanisms
• The challenges faced by local governments in designing effective value capture strategies

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Charter Cities Institute Founder and Chairman Mark Lutter returns to the podcast to share his perspective on network states, charter city trends, and more. Mark is also the CEO of Braavos Cities, a charter city development company partnering with local landowners and a leading organizer of Zuzalu, a new pop-up city in Montenegro. Tune in today to hear Mark’s insights on existing network states and why they have either succeeded or failed. You’ll also learn about some of the challenges associated with attracting appropriate talent to cities in order to facilitate growth. Mark shares his experience at Zuzalu and describes the flat hierarchical structure that was made possible there. Using the metaphor of gardening instead of carpentry, Mark illustrates his unique approach to building network cities. Hear how Mark differs from others in the charter city space on the matter of location and his analysis of the global response to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. As our episode draws to a close, Mark reveals his thoughts on restarting struggling economies, finding buy-in from local government, and more. Thanks for listening!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to today’s episode with CCI Founder and Chairman Mark Lutter. 
• What Zuzali is and how it came together with reference to Vitalik Buterin and Balaji Srinivasan.
• Defining the terms ‘pop up city’, ‘pop up village’, and ‘network state’. 
• How the historical failures of network-type states influence Mark’s feelings.
• Examining the examples of Israel, Utah, Salt Lake City, and Jonestown.
• Considering why San Francisco is especially susceptible to cults.
• Why Mark returned from Montenegro and Zuzalu with optimism for network states.
• How the internet can behave as a giant sorting mechanism.
• His predictions for how sorting mechanisms will change in the future.
• The problem of attracting appropriate talent to cities. 
• Why Montenegro was the chosen location for Zuzalu. 
• Building Zuzalu whilst building local relationships.
• The role of the host government in the success of Zuzalu. 
• Where the name Zuzalu came from.
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• Flat status hierarchies in network cities and other agglomerates.
• How they managed to sustain a flat hierarchy at Zuzalu. 
• What it means to think like a gardener and not a carpenter.
• What Braavos Cities is and what it aims to do.
• Where Mark differs from other folks in the charter city space on the matter of location.
• Two migration patterns to tap into. 
• The greatest successes of the COVID-19 pandemic and what could have been adopted instead.
• Distinguishing between Charter Cities Institute and Braavos Cities.
• Restarting an economy through leveraging comparative advantage.
• Getting buy-in from local government.
• Job creation and investment. 
• The Zanzibar project that Mark is excited about at the moment.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mark Lutter

Mark Lutter on Twitter

Mark Lutter on Medium

Mark Lutter Email

Braavos Cities

Zuzalu

Industrialization has a myriad of consequences that have been studied and speculated upon from the very start. In this episode, Dr. Elliott Green joins us to discuss the impact of industrialization on ethnic identity and diversity. Dr. Green is a political scientist, Africanist, and associate professor in the Department of International Development at The London School of Economics. He is also the author of the book Industrialization and Assimilation and today, we learn about his research and insights on the topic. We delve into the Marx-Geller take on industrialization and find out how Dr. Green conceptualizes it and why he promotes pro-industrialization. We discuss the implications of urbanization without industrialization in Africa and how people use their rural identities as insurance against de-urbanization before investigating the cause of “under-urbanization” in countries like Kenya and Uganda. From the measures of industrialization and its relationship to economic growth and identity formation to the effect of decentralization on assimilation, Dr. Green tackles it all! Tune in for this insightful conversation on all things industrialization and identity.

Key Points From This Episode:

•   Introducing political scientist and Africanist, Dr. Elliott Green

•   The topic investigated in his book Industrialization and Assimilation: the consequence of Industrialization in terms of ethnic diversity.

•   How Dr. Green’s take on industrialization differs from that of Marx and Geller.

•   Why we have differing levels of ethnic diversity across the world.

•   The implications of urbanization without industrialization in Africa.

•   Cases of de-urbanization in Africa and how people use their rural identities as insurance against it.

•   Which African regions have the highest and lowest levels of urbanization.

•   What can be attributed to the “under-urbanization” of countries like Kenya and Uganda.

•   Why Dr. Green promotes pro-industrialization and how he conceptualizes industrialization.

•   The relationship between economic growth and industrialization.

•   Other measures of industrialization.

•   How industrialization generates broader processes of identity formation, irrespective of politics and religion.

•   The overlap of religious and ethnic identities in 20th century Turkey.

•   Instances where industrialization and nation-building do and don’t go hand in hand.

•   Government attempts to create ethnically neutral cities.

•   Why trust is essential for development.

•   Dr. Green’s take on the “markets make us moral” hypothesis.

•   To what extent decentralization can affect assimilation or ethnic change.

•   How the “completion” of industrialization will (or won’t) impact identity.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Elliott Green

Industrialization and Assimilation

Ha-Joon Chang

Magnetic Mountain: Stalinism as a...

We are joined on the show today by Joe McReynolds, co-author of Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City, and we have an extensive conversation about the characteristics of Tokyo urbanism, the role of policy in the city, lessons that may be applied to charter cities, and also some of Joe's thoughts on China's current military capabilities. Joe makes a strong argument for avoiding culturally essentialist understandings of Tokyo, and also plots how the history of Tokyo eschews western understandings of urban planning strategies. We touch on the nature of Tokyo neighborhoods, rental and ownership, greenery and beautification, and much more. To finish off this fascinating chat, we turn to Joe's interest and involvement in Chinese affairs and reflect on the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on China's ambitions. So to catch all this and more in this lively and eye-opening chat with Joe, press play!

Key Points From This Episode:

•   A look at Joe's two areas of expertise; urbanism in Tokyo and Chinese National security. 

•   Joe unpacks the different forms of relevant urbanism.

•   The complexity of Tokyo's urbanism and how it stretches typical western paradigms.

•   The influence of policy and design on Tokyo and its neighborhoods.

•   Norms around housing, upkeep, and building standards in Tokyo.

•   Ownership and renting; Joe talks about the importance of landlords in Tokyo.

•   Shinto practices and the traditions that subtly bind neighborhood communities.

•   Tokyo residents' attitudes towards the external impacts on individual lifestyles.

•   Joe's thoughts on greenery in Tokyo.

•   Lessons from Tokyo for charter cities and Joe's passion for these projects. 

•   The impact of international restrictions on semiconductor exports to China.

•   Exploring the example that Russia's war with Ukraine is setting for China.

•   Joe talks a little bit about Ephemerisle and its representation of competitive governance.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Joe McReynolds

Joe McReynolds on Twitter

Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City

China's Evolving Military Strategy

Keio University

The Jamestown Foundation

Ephemerisle

Jeffrey Mason

Kurtis Lockhart

Charter Cities Institute

Charter Cities Institute on Facebook

What do high education and low fertility rates have in common? According to today’s guest, Charlie Robertson, they are both positively correlated with economic growth. In today’s episode, Charlie shares the reasons why he believes that countries that don’t get their fertility rates down to below 3 children per woman and those that don’t have adult literacy rates above 70% are doomed to remain trapped in poverty. Join us for a round-the-world trip where Charlie delves into the history of South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the West, and offers his explanation for why some countries have flourished while others have floundered. Charlie is the Global Chief Economist at Renaissance Capital and the author of The Fastest Billion and The Time-Travelling Economist.

Key Points From This Episode:

•   Understanding economic trends in Africa over the past few years.

•   Factors that lead to the creation of urban slums.

•   Charlie’s hypothesis on the link between fertility and economic growth.

•   What Charlie sees as the optimal fertility rate.

•   Basic adult literacy rates in Sub-Saharan African countries when they were decolonized.

•   A statistic that highlights the progress that has been made on the education front globally.

•   Why education is imperative for growth.

•   The correlation between education and fertility.

•   The importance of correctly sequencing educational priorities.

•   An explanation of the economic success being experienced in the Philippines.

•   Comparing the rate of economic growth in India and China.

•   Reasons why Pakistan hasn’t kept up with India’s levels of economic growth.

•   Explaining Sri Lanka’s downfall.

•   Charlie’s thoughts on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

•   The energy financing issues facing African countries.

•   Challenges of using green energy as a baseload power source.

•   Why Charlie believes governments should be focusing on providing electricity to factories rather than homes.

•   Benefits of decentralized energy systems.

•   The potential of municipal-level financing approaches.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Charlie Robertson on LinkedIn

Renaissance Capital

The Fastest Billion

The Time-Travelling Economist

Charter Cities Institute

Charter Cities Institute on Facebook

Charter Cities Institute on Twitter

The West’s misconceptions about Africa are vast, particularly when it comes to the realm of business. Today we are joined by Dr. Deanne de Vries, who has worked across the continent in various capacities for over 30 years. She is currently an advisor for firms looking to enter the African market and is the author of Africa: Open for Business. In this episode, Deanne fills us in on the challenges and the exciting opportunities for doing business in Africa, sharing insights into the evolving tech and startup scenes. We discuss Africa's agricultural and manufacturing sectors, and Deanne breaks down what governments need to do to boost these industries. To hear about the community-centric focus of African business and to find out why on-the-ground integrated local presence is far more valuable than any data, tune in!

Key Points From This Episode:

•   The history of Deanne de Vries’ work in Africa.

•   The ABC of learning to do business in unfamiliar territory: Appetite, Bandwidth, and Capital.

•   The evolution of the African tech scene.

•   The focus of Africa’s startup scene.

•   The potential for French-speaking West Africa to rise in the tech sector.

•   What governments can do to boost agricultural productivity in Africa.

•   The importance of access to the market, in terms of agriculture.

•   The challenges faced by Africa’s manufacturing industry.

•   Why African business can’t be judged by statistics alone.

•   The number one key to success for doing business in Africa.

•   Deanne shares a case study to illustrate the importance of being on the ground.

•   The potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area to promote business in Africa.

•   The greatest Western misunderstandings about doing business in Africa.

•   The challenge of data accuracy across Africa.

•   What trumps data when it comes to doing business.

•   The number one way to de-risk any deal in Africa.

•   Deanne shares her chocolate chip cookie story.

•   The impact of China's increasing presence across the continent.

•   The influence of Turkey, Russia, and the UAE on Africa.

•   How best to think about market entry in Africa.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Deanne de Vries

Dr. Deanne de Vries on LinkedIn

Dr. Deanne de Vries on Instagram

Africa: Open for Business

Charter Cities Institute

Charter Cities Institute on Facebook

Charter Cities Institute on Twitter