ABSTRACT
That being said, many differences do exist in urban planning challenges. Third World local governments are frequently overwhelmed with the challenge of meeting demands for basic infrastructure and services. Urban population growth in many developing nations is far more rapid than in the First World. Mexico City’s population, for example, grew from 3.5 million people in 1950 to 17.6 million in 2000, and is projected to expand to 19 million by 2015, according to National Intelligence Council estimates. The population in Lagos, Nigeria, grew from 1 million in 1950 to 12.2 million in 2000, and is projected to reach 24.4 million in 2015. That in Bombay grew from 2.8 million in 1950 to 16.9 million in 2000, and is expected to be flooded by 27.4 million people in 2015.1 The existence of enormous informal settlements (in which residents lack title to land and have usually constructed dwellings themselves out of available materials) also presents unique problems in less-developed countries. At the same time, cities in Europe and elsewhere often benefit from far older urban traditions than in North America, with substantial advantages in terms of compact urban centers, walkable streets, strong public transit systems, and wonderful historic architecture and indigenous design traditions.
