ABSTRACT
“The draw of the city” introduces the book, which brings under one umbrella empirical data, both quantitative and qualitative, along with people's voices to consider themes around freedom, choice, dignity and the role of place for development. It sets out data that were gathered for our project funded through the Rising Tide Foundation in three different slum types in Delhi between September 2021 and August 2024. Delhi is made up of different spaces that are planned, unplanned, authorised and unauthorised, with those living in them coming from different religions and castes with varying education levels, language, and migration status.. The planning of the city, through the Delhi Master Plans since 1962, shows the inability of planners and the government to foresee the legality and legitimacy of space, as well as the demand and supply for housing in such a vibrant city which draws migrants in search of a better life. These ideas are discussed through the theories of Jane Jacobs, Elinor Ostrom and F. A. Hayek introduced in this chapter. Their theories and ideas provide an underpinning for the whole book.
