ABSTRACT
Since this text is largely based on a chapter from a broader study, it is proper to first discuss the latter. The starting point was a course, given for three years at the University of Geneva between 1974 and 1978 under the title "Urbanisation and Economic Development". This chapter begins with the role of urbanisation in the industrial revolution, then on to the relation between development and urbanisation, and, finally, to the more delicate problem of the impact of urbanisation on development. On the contrary, it can be estimated that around 1700 the level of English urbanisation was lower than that of the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy and probably Spain. It was on the same level as France. Furthermore, among the countries which stood between those and who achieved the highest level of industrialisation, authors find countries which began this process with very low urbanisation levels (Germany and Sweden).
